Obsessive Peavywatch has entered it’s 8th week, and the focus has shifted from rumors about a Peavy trade, itself, to rumors about the future of the San Diego Padres. For, as the team goes, so goes its need to deal Peavy.
Recently, news reports confirmed that former agent and Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad was leading a group in purchasing a substantial portion of the Padres. Details continue to surface regarding the interplay between the Padres sale and the likelihood of a Peavy deal.
It is unclear how much operating capital the Padres will have if the sale goes through. The sale price will exceed $400 million, perhaps by a large margin. Moores has ordered the payroll slashed to $40 million for the 2009 season, barely more than half of last year’s Opening Day payroll of about $73 million. As of now, the Padres are about $5 million over budget for the 40-man roster, having committed $31.2 million to eight players. San Diego Union-Tribune.
It’s a near certainty that the Padres will not cut salary by moving relatively inexpensive first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, so if Moores’ directive that the payroll come in under $40 million remains in force, the only two realistic pieces to move are Peavy, and right fielder Brian Giles. Giles, like Peavy, has a no trade clause, and is thought to be resistant to going anywhere but San Diego. More after the jump.
For those concerned that Moorad, alone, will put the kybash on a Peavy deal, it seems unlikely:
John Moores will remain as majority owner of the Padres for three or four years, even if the ongoing negotiations with a Jeff Moorad-led group yields an agreement, according to major league sources.
Moorad eventually would assume the largest financial stake in the club, but not for a matter of years, the sources said. However, at some point this year, Moorad would assume a powerful decision-making role within the front office, with the added clout of being the majority owner in waiting and a minority owner in the near term.
So even if Moorad is opposed to dealing Peavy, Jake would have to remain with the team throughout the rest of the off-season before Moorad would be in a role to influence personnel decisions.