LAS VEGAS – The lone holdup in a deal sending San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy to the Chicago Cubs is the team’s ability to trade starting pitcher Jason Marquis, a source close to the situation said Tuesday night.
The Cubs are trying to offload Marquis and his $9.875 million salary to make room for Peavy’s four-year, $63 million contract, plus a $22 million option in 2013 that would likely need to be exercised for him to drop his no-trade clause.
The potential trade, a complicated affair involving a third and perhaps fourth team, would send a handful of prospects back to the rebuilding Padres and ship Cubs utilityman Mark DeRosa to the Phillies. Baltimore has also been involved in the discussions. Whether Marquis would go to Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Diego or, perhaps, another team was unclear.