Some reports have surfaced that the Braves have pried the "front-runner" label from the Cubs in the Jake Peavy sweepstakes, because of organizational depth when it comes to minor league progress. Peavy has a full no-trade clause, and the Braves are among the teams he said he'd be open to joining. Late last night, however, details emerged that there could be a potential snag in those talks. You see, Peavy wishes to play for a winning team. One of the players who is being discussed as part of the deal is the Braves young shortstop, Yunel Escobar. Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, has stated Peavy would likely invoke his no-trade clause if Escobar is included in the deal.
"Escobar's a pretty good player," Axelrod said. "To be honest, Jake and I have said, 'If that kind of trade gets made, who plays short for them?'"Another interesting layer is that the Padres are looking to move Khalil Greene. What if Greene is included? He's a serious downgrade from Escobar, but he's been Peavy's teammate for a while ... maybe that would help push the deal through? Then the question would become, do the Braves even want Greene?
Stay tuned.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peavy would greatly help a Braves staff with a bunch of aging pitchers, a few young ones, and a team that appears to be close to getting back in the pennent race next year. I can understand his reluctance to come to the Braves if Escobar is included in the trade. But being able to pitch as well as to be around a few future HOFers might be tempting to him. And to be close to his Alabama home might be tempting also.
I'd like to see the Dodgers give up on Manny (after all, you always end up paying a premium for a Boras client) and go after Peavy. And if Kent and Garciaparra are retiring and Casey Blake is leaving, they could always try to get Greene to play the infield as well.