Winter Meetings News
OK, enough dwelling on the past. Baseball is hopping right now, with rumors flying like crazy.
JAKE PEAVY: There is a deal really close to being done with the Cubs and another team, most likely the Phillies. The Padres would get a lot of good players, but I still don’t want him to go. I have heard so many things, I have no idea what’s true or not. On the Padres website it looks like this thing could get done like today. But I heard on the radio that the Cubs think this is kind of getting ridiculous. If a deal’s going to get made, it’s going to be in the next 48 hours. If not, Kevin Towers has said the he will take Jake off the block, for the sake of the fans and Jake himself. So if we can get through the next 48 hours with no go, Jake will probably be our Opening Day starter. You have no idea what a relief that is to this Padres fan. We’ve been riding this since the end of the season, and we just want to keep Jake. But a deal still could get done. So we’ll just have to see.
TREVOR HOFFMAN: Trev has talked to the Mets, but with the signing of K-Rod, he won’t be going to then this year. The Indians also had some interest, but now it’s reported that they are signing Kerry Wood. So, our famous closer is still out of work. Manager Bud Black had spoken positively about getting Trevor back to San Diego, but he’s not the one who has the money. I think Trevor could come back, but it might be a little tense. I just hope he doesn’t sign with the Dodgers. Oh, no, please not the Dodgers!
GREG MADDUX: The Professor retired on Monday. He was an incredible player, a great guy. I really enjoyed having him here in San Diego. His fielding and hitting were the things that really got me. He was so good, and it was so cool to watch him. I remember when he stole the only base we stole one month. It was so cool! He was such an amazing player, and he’s going to the HOF as soon as he can. Wow, what a player!
It looks like CC has signed with the Yankees. I think there will be lots of moves today!
I want to point to two articles: One is a supplement to my game 163 entry. In March, Trevor Hoffman was on the front page of USA Today, and this article is incredible. It is one of the best I have ever read. Wow. Disappointment Aside, Hoffman Still Stands Tall
The other is this pathetic interview with Bud Black. I don’t think it was done by someone associated with MLB.com, and he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about. Plus, “Bud’s” answers don’t sound like him at all. Read the comments after you read the article. It is plain pathetic. An Interview with Bud Black
Well, that’s all for now. I may need to check in later…
Unfinished Business 
Greg Maddux is a class act and I commend him for knowing when it was time to retire and not hang around too long.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Weird interview with Bud Black. He sort of came off like a politician, not really saying anything, just dancing around the issues. At this point, I can’t tell if the Padres are intent on trading Peavy or not. Very murky.
– http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
I know Peavy has had to wait for months and probably should have been traded a month or so ago to the Braves since they had the right package and everything, but Towers waited. I’ll just say if the Angels don’t get Tex, then Peavy will be an Angel next year. They have everything that Towers wants, it’s just the money issue since they plan to spend a lot of money of Teixeira.
http://darion.mlblogs.com/