PEORIA, Ariz. —— The agent for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy said he and the club are closing in on a multi-year contract agreement, and that a deal could be struck by the time the Padres begin Cactus League play early next month.

"We're at a point where we feel like we can get this done," said Barry Axelrod, Peavy's Encinitas-based agent. "I think we have a real chance to do this before the (contract) renewal date (on March 2)."

According to Axelrod, if the negotiations fall apart, Peavy will accept a one-year renewable deal from the Padres and table contract talks until he becomes eligible for salary arbitration after this season. But a recent round of conversations with the team, including a meeting with general manager Kevin Towers in San Diego on Tuesday, has left Axelrod feeling optimistic.

"I would say we've advanced beyond the concept and idea stage to talking about numbers and the structuring of things," he said. "Both sides have moved significantly to a middle ground."

The Padres control the rights of the 23-year-old Peavy, who went 15-6 and led the National League with a 2.27 ERA in his second professional season, for another four years. But they are wary of seeing him increase his market value further heading into arbitration.

The club has concentrated on deals of four or five years in length as a means of buying out all of Peavy's arbitration eligibility and possibly one year of free agency.

Axelrod said he is using Houston Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt as a benchmark in negotiations. The 27-year-old Oswalt, a 20-game winner last year who is 63-27 with a 3.11 ERA in four pro seasons, avoided arbitration earlier this month by agreeing to a two-year, $16.9 million contract.

"Jake hasn't performed to the level of an Oswalt yet," Axelrod does. "But my concern is: What if he does?

"The sticking point now is working on elements that will protect each side —— protect the Padres on the down side, in case of injury or lack of performance, and protect Jake in case he continues to get better."

Axelrod has already had his eyes opened this offseason by the going rate for starting pitchers.

As the representative for right-hander Matt Clement, a pitcher with a 69-75 career record, Axelrod approached his free agency with fairly modest expectations, only to watch his client receive $25.5 million over three years from the Boston Red Sox. Three other pitchers with career marks below or slightly above .500 —— Kris Benson, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright —— were each handed multiyear deals averaging at least $7 million.

"That's something we really have to pay heed to in accurately representing a guy like Jake," Axelrod said.

Short hops

The Padres have agreed to one-year contracts with the following players: C Miguel Ojeda, 2B Josh Barfield, 1B Tagg Bozied, INF J.J. Furmaniak, RHP Justin Germano, CF Freddy Guzman, OF Ben Johnson, INF Paul McAnulty, 3B Corey Smith, LHP Sean Thompson and LHP Rusty Tucker. … Manager Bruce Bochy said 1B Phil Nevin reported Wednesday in great shape. 2B Mark Loretta was the only position player not to report, but Bochy wasn't concerned. Position players will get physicals today, with the first full-squad workout being pushed back to Friday.

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.