Robothal has more Peavy:

Padres GM Kevin Towers rolled into the meetings Saturday, a day before most teams were set to arrive. He doesn't necessarily expect to trade right-hander Jake Peavy this week. Frankly, I'd be surprised if he did.

Towers' problem is that he gave Peavy full no-trade protection through 2010 when he signed the pitcher to a contract extension last December.

Thus, Peavy effectively controls the process, and none of his five preferred National League teams represents an easy match. ... The Cubs could grow more interested as they face the potential loss of free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster, but their talent isn't as appealing.

The UT's perspective:

In return for ace Jake Peavy, the Padres want compelling talent more than an offer built on bulk.

“To me, it's quality, not quantity,” General Manager Kevin Towers said. “To me, any deal is going to be quality more than quantity. It can be two or three (players) if it's the right two or three.”

...

Towers said several clubs have shown interest in Peavy, a 27-year-old who won the Cy Young Award in 2007 and is guaranteed $63 million over the next four years. He added that he is “focused on three” clubs that Peavy has said he might favor.

Towers declined to identify the three but said that "if any is willing to step up, there's a deal there."

Most likely, those teams are the Cubs, Braves and Dodgers, who are the teams rumors have focused on (the Cardinals and the Astros are the other two clubs on Peavy's list, but they seem to be outside the running). So it seems the Cubs may have an acceptable offer to make to the Padres, even if it wouldn't be their first choice.

Bruce Miles talks about retaining our own free agent pitching:

Right now, Dempster looks the better bet to remain a Cub. He and Hendry have a good relationship, and both sides seem to want to make a deal even though Dempster has filed for free agency.

Wood and Hendry go back to 1995, but if Wood is looking for a multiyear deal to finish games for the Cubs after saving 34 this year, the Cubs may be willing to let him go and promote Carlos Marmol from setup man to closer.

The Cubs seem more inclined to want Wood back with a one-year deal plus an option year or two. But with many clubs needing relief pitching, Wood may find his three- or four-year deal on the open market.

"I've had some conversations with both their agents," Hendry said. "That'll probably pick up in the next week."

The Trib addresses the great right field question:

As for the need for a new right fielder, the plan of platooning Fukudome and Reed Johnson in center was mentioned by Piniella in his Daily News interview, suggesting Felix Pie is on the way out and the Cubs either will seek a left-handed-hitting right fielder or move Mark DeRosa to right and look for a lefty-hitting second baseman who can lead off.

The Cubs of course already have a decent lefty-hitting second baseman in house, but nobody's ever confused Mike Fontenot for a leadoff hitter. The only free agent I know of that fits the bill is Orlando Hudson; Furcal hits lefty and leads off, but would probably want to stick at shortstop (especially if his double play partner was Ryan Theriot).

UPDATED 12:35: A few more logs to toss on the fire.

The Cubs are one of the teams linked to Japanese pitching phenom Junichi Tazawa, who went undrafted based upon his own request. He's probably still a few years away - think of him as a first round draft pick.

The Cubs are continuing to be active in signing prospects out of Korea.

For an insider's view of how the offseason goes, Beyond the Boxscore interviews Royals Asst. GM Dean Taylor. Padres Asst. GM Paul DePodesta discusses their plans going into the winter meetings.