Possible Four-Team Deal Would Send Jake Peavy, Mark DeRosa, and Others Packing

The Jake Peavy sweepstakes just got a ton more interesting. The inclusion of the World Champs always spices things up, you know. That's right, the Philadelphia Phillies are now involved in talks with the Cubs ... and the Padres ... and the Orioles. The scene is now set for a blockbuster deal which would see upwards of seven or eight players switching addresses. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports his findings from a meeting with Padres GM Kevin Towers.

Towers told reporters on Monday that the Cubs were the only team he is continuing to talk to about Peavy and that making a Peavy trade was his full focus at the winter meetings. He then went out and proved it by working to facilitate a potentially four-team trade that would send Mark DeRosa to Philadelphia and Felix Pie to Baltimore and bring back pitchers Garrett Olson, J.A. Happ (the Northwestern product) and Sean Marshall for the Padres.

The key for that deal to work is for the Phillies or Orioles to take Jason Marquis, with the Cubs agreeing to eat some of his salary.

I believe this would be a great deal for both the Cubs and Phillies.

For the Cubs, they would shed enough payroll to add Peavy and have enough money left over for Milton Bradley -- it mentioned in the story he was coveted by Cubs' brass. The starting rotation would be the best in baseball (Peavy, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, and Rich Harden). I can see concerns about Bradley's attitude history, but I believe Lou Pinella and some of the leadership from veteran Derrek Lee would be enough to keep Bradley in line. Plus, if he gets off to a good start the Wrigley faithful will worship him and he'll be happy.

For the Phillies, Mark DeRosa is the perfect solution to their conundrum at second base with Chase Utley's injury. This would allow him to fully recover without rushing back. Once Utley did return, they could use DeRosa pretty much anywhere they want, considering he can play first, second, third, right, and left. The void left by Pat Burrell's departure is another place where DeRosa would add depth. I'll also take the opportunity to let Phillies fans know they'd be getting a really likeable guy. He'd be a fan favorite within weeks.

For the Padres, they'd be getting a quality return of young -- yet immediately usable -- pitchers in Sean Marshall and Garrett Olson.

The Orioles would be acquiring a player they've pined over for the past couple years in Felix Pie. Let's not let them know that Pie sucks just yet, okay?

According to Rogers, this deal is too close to not happen. We'll keep you updated on the happenings, and I'm sure Andrew Johnson will check in with some more notes from Sin City quite soon.