Price was too high, or just another smoke screen?

[Kingdom]

Trade talks between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres over pitcher Jake Peavy have hit the wall, and according to Braves general manager Frank Wren, the Braves have "moved on."

The Padres, in the midst of dumping payroll, have been seeking a trade partner for Peavy, their 2007 Cy Young Award winner. Wren said he called off the talks with the Padres after the two sides could not agree on the final pieces.

"We had our last discussion with San Diego yesterday [Thursday] and let them know that if the final names we were discussing wouldn't get it done, we would move on to other opportunities, other possibilities," Wren said Friday, according to FoxSports.com.

Wren told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Padres' price for Peavy was too high, though he would not reveal who specifically was packaged in the Braves' offer. Shortstop Yunel Escobar and minor league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez have been named in multiple media reports as being part of the deal.

According to CBSSports.com, the Braves also were offering pitchers Blaine Boyer and Charlie Morton.

"I think there were a lot of names that were discussed, and we felt like at the end of the day, it was a little more than we were willing to give up, as it would impact the future," he said, according to the Journal-Constitution.

Wren has not ruled out the possibility of talks with the Padres reopening.

"I don't take anything at face value this time of year," Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, told The San Diego Union-Tribune. "If I hear Frank Wren say that he's not interested any longer, I take it with a grain of salt."

Peavy, who is 27, went 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA in 2008. He is signed through 2013, and currently, he has a full no-trade clause and the right to veto any proposal. He indicated he would be amenable to a trade to Atlanta, St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros.

And while he would prefer to be moved to a National League team, the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees also have popped up in media reports.

The Cubs are still in the Peavy sweepstakes, according to FoxSports.com.

"Chicago didn't give us any deadline," Padres general manager Kevin Towers told the Union-Tribune. "I imagine we'll continue to talk to them, but it's going to definitely take a third team to get something done there."

ESPN - Atlanta Braves say Jake Peavy talks with San Diego Padres over

[HollywoodLeo]

Breakdown in talks.

I have a hard time believing the price was too high when they weren't even offering their best piece for, arguably, the best pitcher in baseball.

[Kingdom]

At least you put arguably.

[HollywoodLeo]

I put arguably because Johan Santana, Brandon Webb, CC Sabathia, and a few others have a legit argument of being just as good, if not maybe a bit better, but the main point was that he even has an argument to be the "best" and the Braves refuse to offer their best prospect.

[Kingdom]

You're such a gentleman.

[love_that_reefer]

Not a smoke screen that's for sure. The Braves offered up a good package for Peavy and the Padres didn't like it. Now the Braves have to focus on snagging some free agent pitchers while keeping their prospects. If the Braves can get a couple of starters to go along with Jar Jar, they can compete again in the NL East. Braves could not sit on this deal all offseason. Sometimes you have to say enough is enough.

[Saber]

The Padres' price will come down. They need to move that salary.

[HollywoodLeo]

Their price isn't going to come down.

If they don't get what they want for him he's staying in San Diego.

They don't have to trade him.

[Saber]

Actually, the owner needs to. He's going through a nasty divorce, so he needs to minimize the value of his franchise in a short time so he doesn't get hosed.

Community property, baby.

[HollywoodLeo]

Then why did he just give a 37 year old OFer 9 million?

I understand he's dropping payroll but they're not going to be stupid about it.

If they were only interested in dumping Jake's salary they would have taken the Braves' offer.

Why turn down an agreement they already have on the table if their only interest is getting rid of his salary?

[love_that_reefer]

They have every intention of moving Giles who also has a no-trade clause. That's why they picked up his option. It was either pay him $3 million to go or pick up his option and trade him for players who can help now. The Padres are dumping salary and I have no doubt Peavy will be moved. The Braves and Padres never had an agreement which is why Peavy is still a Padre. Now the Braves will turn their attention to free agents. Peavy will not be a Padre in '09.

[realmofotalk]

Actually, the owner needs to. He's going through a nasty divorce, so he needs to minimize the value of his franchise in a short time so he doesn't get hosed.

Community property, baby.

Bump.

I understand selling off your players if you need the liquidity immediately for temporary spousal support or whatever, but how can devaluing your franchise be in your own best interest when you're going to sell it?

Joshua Fisher said...

With respect to a firesale, I don't think clearing out the roster would be necessary. We're in a different era of how we view baseball--any savvy prospective owner will know that selling off the players for pennies on the dollar would be devaluing.

[HollywoodLeo]

I suppose if you just want to sell it asap making it easier to buy helps that goal.

[realmofotalk]

And now, former Padres owner John Moores is trying to buy the Atlanta Hawks. Gotta love the irony. The same owner who couldn't afford to keep Jake Peavy now wants to be responsible for the remainder of Joe Johnson's $124 million contract.

[HollywoodLeo]

Becky doesn't get half of the Hawks.