Towers waiting on Hendry for blockbuster?

Multiple sources are saying the Cubs and Padres have the framework completed on a four team deal that would also include Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Orioles could send Garrett Olsen and recieve Felix Pie. The Phillies could send some pitching prospects over to San Diego for Mark DeRosa. DeRosa would help cushion the blow of Chase Utley being out until June.

The legwork, complex and time-consuming, for a potential Jake Peavy trade to the Chicago Cubs has essentially been completed.

Now, all Padres general manager Kevin Towers needs is for his Cubs’ counterpart, Jim Hendry, to give him the go-ahead to make the deal.

Towers said Monday night that he has facilitated a three-team and possibly a four-team deal that would send Peavy to the Chicago for a package of players.

 Reports are conflicting however about Jim Hendry needing approval of ownership to make this deal happen. Jim says no.

“All I know is that I was told over the weekend by my bosses that the Cubs are completely separate [from the Tribune Company's financial issues],” Hendry said. “We’re not worried about having any problems at all. New ownership will be taking over in the next couple of months. There are no restrictions put on me.”

 But other sources familiar with the Cubs’ situation say that isn’t entirely accurate. Any major addition — whether it’s Peavy or a left-handed-hitting free-agent outfielder such as Raul Ibanez– needs to be approved by ownership. And Hendry also has been told that every big addition to the payroll will need to be accompanied by a payroll reduction — if not before the addition of new players then certainly before Opening Day.

The Cubs would be sending some payroll back in the deal with the loss of DeRosa. They also look to unload Jason Marquis and are willing to eat a portion of 1/3 of his salary for 2009. Kevin Towers says he is satisfied with the package coming back and expects a deal or no deal at all by Thursday.

“There’s a package there that would satisfy us,” Towers said Monday night. “Will they end up doing it? I don’t know.”

Towers said he wants an answer by the end of the week or the Padres likely will announce that they are keeping Peavy, who has been on the trade block since October.

 

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