Here’s my story on the Jake Peavy trade …

No, no one saw this coming. Not Padres general manager Kevin Towers,
who was knee-deep in a “mega-deal on the table,” and certainly not Jake
Peavy, who was spending his Friday as far away from the Trade Deadline
fervor as possible.

“I was sleeping at 12:20 p.m. this afternoon with my middle son,
Wyatt. I did not think it was going to happen,” Peavy said. “This thing
happened in around 40 minutes.”

Peavy was referring to the trade that was consummated two
minutes before the 1 p.m. PT Trade Deadline on Friday, the deal that
sent him from the only organization he’s ever known to the Chicago
White Sox, the same team he politely declined waiving his no-trade
clause for two months ago.

Unlikely? That doesn’t even begin to describe the wild events
from Friday that saw these Padres not only move the 2007 National
League Cy Young winner and his hefty contract but pick up four pitchers
all under the age of 26, including one of the top prospects in the
White Sox system, 22-year-old left-hander Aaron Poreda.

To top it off, the Peavy is on the disabled list with a
strained tendon in his right ankle that will likely keep him from
pitching with the White Sox until Sept. 1 or so.

“I really did not think we were trading Jake Peavy at 10 o’clock this morning,” Towers told reporters.

A phone call from White Sox general manager Kenny Williams
changed all that, though. Towers was in conversation with several
teams, including the “mega-deal” he alluded to that might have involved
sending All-Stars Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell to the, gasp, Los
Angeles Dodgers, according to SI.com. Towers wouldn’t confirm as much.

That phone call got the ball rolling again on a deal that was
eerily similar to the one that Peavy vetoed two months ago, a deal that
included Poreda and pitchers Clayton Richard, Dexter Carter and Adam
Russell. Without the parameters in place from that deal, the two teams
couldn’t have acted as quickly and decisively as they did Friday.

“Kenny is pretty persistent and a great guy to deal with,”
Towers said. “It was clear to me in my mind that Peavy was a guy he
wanted and targeted. He told me he was going to get Peavy … somehow,
someway.”

The White Sox will pay the remainder of Peavy’s $10 million
contract for this season and are on the hook for his $15 million in
2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. The contract also
includes a $22 million club option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout.

Williams actually said he started thinking about Peavy a year ago, oddly enough, at the Trade Deadline.

“Listen, in my world, if you get to a situation where you have a
chance to get to the playoffs, you certainly want an opportunity to
dream about winning in the playoffs and getting to the World Series and
winning the World Series,” Williams said. “I simply did not feel as
though we were positioned right now to match up against some of the big
boys in a short series when you are talking about the Yankees and
Boston.

“If you are going to be in this position, you may as well have a strong enough position where you can dream.”

That dream included the 28-year-old Peavy pitching in the White
Sox rotation, and if it meant picking up Peavy’s entire contract and
making concessions for Peavy’s family to visit him in Chicago, which
was about Peavy’s lone sticking point Friday, Williams was fine with
that.

So what changed between May and Friday? Peavy insists he never
told Williams and the White Sox that he wasn’t interested in ever
playing for him.

“In May, we didn’t think it was the right time, but now things
are a little bit different on a lot of fronts. … I think the only
reason this deal was able to get done is because they did pursue it
actively in May,” Peavy said. “In May, we had just won five or six
games in a row and had creeped above .500, and Chicago wasn’t really in
the shape that they’re in now.”

Aside from Williams’ insistence and fervor for having Peavy
pitch in Chicago — and for the White Sox, not the Cubs, who nearly
obtained the right-hander last offseason — the fact the Padres
frequently approached Peavy about expanding the list of teams that he
would accept a trade to finally wore on him.

“The ultimate decision was when the team you’re playing for
actively keeps telling you they need to move you, and one team comes
after you like Chicago did, you’re excited to play for a team where you
know you’re wanted,” Peavy said. “This day was inevitable.”

But not one that was devoid of sorrow for Peavy, who as a
17-year-old was drafted by the Padres in the 15tt-round of the 1999
Draft out of high school and who made his Major League debut in 2002
before a crowd of 60,021 at Qualcomm Stadium against the New York
Yankees, eventually losing 1-0.

“This is all I’ve known since I was a 17-year-old kid,” Peavy
said. “There’s been a lot of mixed emotions so far. Saying goodbye is
going to be the toughest part. The Padres are in a different place than
we were a few years ago. We had a few good years. Now, with the change
in ownership and the payroll difficulties, things have changed.

“I was honored to be a part of this franchise for eight years.”

In eight-plus seasons with the Padres, Peavy was 92-68 with a
3.29 ERA in 212 starts. He was a unanimous selection for the Cy Young
Award in 2007 when he went 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts in
34 starts.

“I think the fans will always remember the fiery competitor –
the guy who takes the ball out on the mound and gives it all he’s got
for as long as he can … yells and screams at himself and shows that
emotion, wearing it on his sleeve.”

– Corey Brock, MLB.com

We’ll have more later at Padres.com about the trade that just went
down. Here’s a quick look at the deal. Poreda is the prize here and
Richard is also very good and likely will join the team first.

Remember to check Twitter @FollowThePadres and Padres.com for more details.

SAN
DIEGO – The Padres and White Sox agreed to a trade on Friday that will
send 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy to Chicago
for a package of four pitchers.

Two months after the two teams
agreed to what is believed to be a similar trade, only to have Peavy
use his no-trade clause to torpedo the deal – Peavy agreed to this
particular trade.

Peavy, who is currently on the disabled list
with a strained tendon in his right ankle, will likely be able to pitch
again in late August.

Peavy, 28, is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA this
season for the Padres and owns a career mark of 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA
in eight-plus seasons with San Diego.

Richard, 25, is 4-3 with a 4.65 ERA in 26 games (14 starts) with the White Sox in 2009.

Poreda, 22, is 3-4 with a 2.72 ERA between Class AAA and Charlotte Class AA Birmingham.

His
contract was purchased from Birmingham on June 9, and he went 1-0 with
a 2.45 ERA in 10 relief appearances with the White Sox before being
optioned to Charlotte on July 21.

Carter, 23, is 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 19 starts with Class A Kannapolis in 2009.

Russell,
26, is 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA and five saves in 34 relief appearances this
season with Charlotte.  He went 4-0 with a 5.19 ERA in 22 relief
appearances with the White Sox in 2008.

Cheers, Corey

21-year-old Mat Latos, one hit, one run, one walk over seven innings.

22-year-old Kyle Blanks, three-run home run, 4 home runs in his last 9 games.

22-year-old Everth Cabrera, two hits, now 12-for-24 on this road trip.

When you’re breaking down Wednesday’s victory over the Reds, you really don’t need to look any further than what these three players did.

Yes, I realize it’s one game in a 162-game season but it shows that, unlike last season when these same Padres were spiraling toward their 99-loss season, there’s some real reasons for optimism this time around.

Sure, the sample size is small but if you’re a Padres fan looking at this roster, looking at how Jake Peavy and Chris Young are on the disabled list, you’re looking for something to cling to, to root for. If I was a fan, these three guys would be it.

Latos is a strike-throwing machine who is not overwhelmed by his surroundings or facing big league hitters. He is efficient, doesn’t walk anyone and isn’t concerned with strikeouts. He’s 21 going on 41, at least as far as his approach.

Cabrera is developing into a Major League-average shortstop. Great defense, range, arm, all of that and his bat is coming around. The speed is there as well, which presents a weapon these Padres have had in recent years. I don’t think the Furcal comparisons, at this point, are that far off.

As for Blanks, he’s showing the kind of power he has showed in the Minor Leagues the past two seasons and appears to be making better in-game adjustments at the plate to what the opposing pitchers are trying to do. I don’t know yet what he’ll be given, say, 500 at-bats, but he’ll get a chance to play a lot moving forward.

Consider that in the last week the Padres had added a young pitcher in Sean Gallagher, who I’m sure will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in 2010 and if the Padres make a deal today or tomorrow (I think they will, probably involving Heath Bell) there could be more young talent on the way.

No, it’s not enough to save this season. That was never the point. But there are signs that the future could be a whole lot brighter than the present.

Cheers, Corey
MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter @FollowThePadres

WASHINGTON – Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he is getting a “ton of calls” from other teams regarding the availability of Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell, though he’s still opposed to making a deal involving either player.

Towers is a never-say-never kind of guy, which means he won’t come out and simply state that the Padres won’t deal Gonzalez or Bell, but at this point he’s not inclined to move his first baseman and closer as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline nears.

“You’re always need to listen, but it would have to be the right deal,” Towers said.

Towers wouldn’t go into specifics but stated that he’s held conversations with several opposing general managers in recent weeks about the two All-Stars. Unless Towers is floored by a proposal, Gonzalez and Bell aren’t going anywhere.

“I’m actually getting more calls on Heath than Adrian,” Towers said. “That’s because most clubs are looking for strength in the bullpen.”

Towers said the conversations he’s had with other teams could prove valuable if during the offseason the Padres reconsider moving Gonzalez or Bell.

“If nothing happens, it’s useful in the offseason,” Towers said.

Gonzalez, 27, is a two-time All-Star who has been linked to the Boston Red Sox in the last week. His current contract might be one of baseball’s best undervalued deals – he is making $3 million this season, $4.75 million in 2010 with a club option for $5.5 million in 2011.

Bell, 31, is making $1.255 million this season, his first as a full-time closer in the Major Leagues. Bell, who has converted 24 of 25 saves this season and made his first All-Star team, is due for potentially-hefty raise.

The Padres, who have already traded outfielder Scott Hairston and reliever Cla Meredith this month, might still make a deal or two before July 31.

“I could see a couple of smaller deals,” Towers said.

Cheers, Corey
MLB.com, Padres.com

As funny as it sounds, that’s something that could happen.

Having coffee in D.C. this morning and stumbled upon a story in the Washington Post about the Nationals/Strasburg on-going drama.

This excerpt was very interesting:

“If the Nationals fail to sign Strasburg, they would also receive a 2010
compensatory pick — “1B,” if you will. But Strasburg, after missing
the Nationals, could be selected by the next team, potentially the San
Diego Padres, who have the second-worst record in baseball right now.
Strasburg was raised in San Diego and attended San Diego State.”

So how about that? The Nationals can’t sign him, he goes back in the draft and the Padres, who are on-pace to finish with the second-worst record in baseball, though the Royals and Indians are threatening, select Strasburg in ’10.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers, Corey Brock
MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter: @FollowThePadres

While watching Jayson Werth of the Phillies in the All-Star Game on Tuesday and it got me to thinking about how the outfielder might have looked in a Padres uniform.

No, it wasn’t the heat here in San Diego that was making me delusional.

Actually, Werth almost became a Padre.

In December of 2006 the Padres, coming off a National League West title, were looking to replace left fielder Dave Roberts, who signed a deal with San Francisco earlier in the month.

San Diego general manager Kevin Towers, having watched Werth while he was with the Dodgers and even going back further to when he saw Werth as a catcher – people forget that he drafted by the Orioles as a catcher in 1997.

“We actually tried to sign him before he went to the Phillies, but [Philadelphia GM Pat] Gillick beat me to him.”

Werth would go on to sign an undervalued, one-year deal for $850,000. Werth enjoyed a breakout season a year ago for the World Champions, hitting .273 with 24 home runs, 67 RBI and 20 steals.

This season, Werth is hitting .263 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI with 12 steals for the Phillies.

“I remember seeing him as an amateur catcher and thinking what a good athlete that he was … I’m shocked he’s become the outfielder he’s become,” Towers said. “Not many guys go from catcher to an above average defender in the outfield.

“He runs well, there’s enough power in the bat. We does everything well. He’s the type of guy who can really hurt you.”

The Padres, having failed to sign Werth, opened the 2007 with Terrmel Sledge in left field. He hit .210 and eventually had his contract sold to a team in Japan following the season.

Left field has more or less been a revolving door ever since. Signing Werth certainly would have been an upgrade to the offense but would have given the Padres much more flexibility in constructing their roster, as he can play all three outfield positions.

Maybe the team wouldn’t have picked up Brian Giles’ option? Maybe the team wouldn’t have sunk the money it did in Jim Edmonds, who lasted a month with the team in 2008? You can certainly play the what-if game a lot, but nonetheless, it’s food for thought.

Cheers, Corey Brock
MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter: @FollowThePadres

Three hours before first pitch Saturday, Edgar Gonzalez grabbed and bat and hustled off behind his brother Adrian Gonzalez to the batting cage.

Kyle Blanks and Greg Burke played cards. A handful of other players watched a replay of the 2006 All-Star Game on a television in the visiting clubhouse.

To be sure, there wasn’t a single player sitting in front of his locker staring into oblivion or still sulking about the events that took place Friday at AT&T Park when Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez no-hit the Padres, striking out 11 with no walks.

Find that strange? Tony Gwynn doesn’t, for one simple reason: There was a game Saturday. And Sunday. No matter what happened Friday, no-hitter or not, it has no bearing on the team moving forward. Baseball, because of the schedule, allows for a short memory.

“There are way too many baseball games in a season to get caught up in any one game,” Gwynn said before Saturday’s game against the Giants.

“Unless it’s a game that’s going to get you into the playoffs, you can’t worry about it. You have a game like that [Friday] … you don’t have a choice. If you want to be successful that next day you’ve got to forget about the last game and focus on that next game.”

Yes, there are issues here with this Padres team, deep ones. The pitching has been awful, the offense ranks last in the Major Leagues in runs and batting average. Having players like David Eckstein and Nick Hundley on the disabled list doesn’t help. Trading Scott Hairston, even though the Padres will receive three pitchers in return when it’s all said and done, was certainly a blow to the offense.

But that’s not really the point. The point is there was no one in the Padres clubhouse prior to Saturday’s game feeling sorry for themselves for what took place Friday. That’s just the way it should be, Gwynn said.

“It can’t carryover. Just like when you have a good game the night before. It doesn’t matter the next day. That’s the best part about this game, being in July, you’ve got the next day ahead of you.”

Manager Bud Black was asked before the game Saturday if he needed to give any sort of inspirational speech to rally his hitters following such a difficult loss. He shook his head.

“Guys know what happened,” he said.

Cheers, Corey Brock
MLB.com, Twitter: @FollowThePadres

So I’ve been a little neglectful with using my Flip video camera. We took some videos in Spring Training that proved to be a big hit, though I’ll admit I didn’t think watching David Eckstein take batting practice would get so many page views.

Anyway, it’s a little tougher to use this thing in the regular season, especially since you don’t have as much player access and, personally, I don’t have that much time with all of the writing assignments we’re responsible for on a daily basis.

That being said, I brought the Flip to San Fransisco and did a video interview with Padres left fielder, Chase Headley. Never mind the rambling questions or the unsteady hand, we’re still a work in progress.

Anyway, enjoy the video of Headley taken before Thursday’s game against the Giants.

Cheers, Corey Brock
MLB.com, On Twitter: @FollowThePadres

Here’s a story I dug up from January of 2008 on Scott Hairston, months after he hit what nearly was one of the biggest home runs in franchise history (Game 163 in Denver). The home run that became a footnote after the whole Matt Holliday incident.
Hairston hit a handful of game-deciding, game-winning and other important home runs. He had 35 of them in 610 at-bats, which is pretty remarkable.

Anyway, here’s a look back at the home run Hairston hit against the Rockies, the one that gave the Padres a brief lead.

In these parts, Padres fans still occasionally joke about how Matt
Holliday still hasn’t touched the plate, even if it pains them greatly
every time they do so.

Maybe that’s because if things had been different that night in
October against Colorado, these same fans might be sharing a laugh over
something more memorable.

Like what easily could have been one of the most significant home runs in the franchise history.

Remember Scott Hairston’s two-run home run off Jorge Julio in
the 13th inning at Coors Field?

Sadly, Hairston’s moment in the sun
lasted about as long as the lead his hit provided that night, as the
Rockies rallied for a 9-8 victory, sending them to the postseason as
Holliday touched or didn’t touch home plate with the winning run.

Hairston, who was at PETCO Park on Saturday for the team’s
third annual Friar Fest, still gets goose bumps when he thinks back to
that home run, not just because what it represented at that very
moment, but for the validation it brought to the 27-year-old.

“I remember as I was running around the bases, I looked in the
dugout and saw everyone looking so happy,” Hairston said. “I just
started thinking then about how two months before that, I was with
another team.

“That was very emotional. I just started to reflect on everything. When I got in the dugout … it felt like I was at home.”

Hairston feels the same way today, as he prepares for his first
Spring Training with the Padres after spending parts of seven seasons
in the Diamondbacks organization.

Hairston joined the Padres on July 27 in a trade that sent
Minor League pitcher Leo Rosales to the Diamondbacks, a team the Padres
were battling with for the division title.

The move nearly backfired on the Diamondbacks, proving that
trading within the same division, especially during the thick of a
pennant race, isn’t always, well, prudent.

Hairston got the one thing he struggled to get in Arizona –
consistent playing time and frequent at-bats — and made the best of
them, hitting .287 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs over just 87
at-bats.

More than that was the timing of some of those home runs, the memorable blast off Julio not withstanding.

On Aug. 3, Hairston hit a game-tying, three-run home run in the
eighth inning against the Giants and then a game-winning home run in
the 10th inning.

On Sept. 19, Hairston his a three-run home run with two outs
off Pirates reliever Matt Capps in the ninth inning for a 5-3 victory.

Cheers, Corey
MLB.com, Twitter