 What Sun-Times Baseball writers Chris De Luca, Gordon Wittenmyer and Joe Cowley are hearing at the winter meetings: One reason the Cubs might complete a Jake Peavy deal before landing the hitting help they want: Their pursuit of left-handed hitting didn't gain much clarity on the first day of the winter meetings, pointing to the growing likelihood they could leave Las Vegas without their new bat. With little movement among a large group of free agents in that category, as well as several more who might be available in trade, the Cubs are content to wait for the market to become better defined and are confident they'll still have appealing choices. ''We're going to do what we always do and wait for what we think is the right deal and react as quickly as we can,'' said general manager Jim Hendry, who has interest in outfielders such as free agent Raul Ibanez and the Florida Marlins' Jeremy Hermida but hasn't ruled out any of several lineup types. ''When you put all those guys who could be available by either of those avenues [trade or free agency], there's quite a disparity of what kind of players those are. I'm not being evasive, but this could go a lot of different ways before it's over. I don't see anything happening immediately. Things could change on a trade in the next day or so. I don't know if a free-agent signing would take place -- I don't know if that's possible.'' ... Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who helped recruit free agent Alfonso Soriano two years ago in his first winter with the Cubs, said he has not met with any potential free-agent hitters this time around but is planning to be in town all week and said he would meet with anyone Hendry wants him to. Piniella encountered a group of writers from Seattle and asked if they thought Ibanez could play right field. ... Jaime Torres, the agent for White Sox third-base prospect Dayan Viciedo, as well as Alexei Ramirez and Jose Contreras, learned Monday the paperwork for Viciedo's visa is finished, and he should have the 19-year-old Cuban defector in Chicago by the end of this week to sign his contract. Torres again insisted that if Viciedo does not make the club out of spring training, expect a call-up before the All-Star Game because ''this kid is something special.'' ... Reds manager Dusty Baker on the Jermaine Dye rumors: ''Were we interested in Jermaine Dye? Most definitely. It's just a matter of how much it's going to cost the team. Whether you want to face it or not, economics is a big issue, and not only in Baseball, but in the world. Right now we are in an economic crisis. I stopped watching every day.'' ... If the Sox were to trade Dye, Carlos Quentin would move to right field, which, according to GM Ken Williams, is his more natural position. ... Free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia left Las Vegas after Day 1 of the winter meetings and didn't provide a timetable on when he will choose his next team. The New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers have shown the most interest. Yankees GM Brian Cashman also is said to be stepping up his interest in free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. ''I'm willing to move on something if I feel the price is right now, regardless of CC,'' Cashman said. ... The Cleveland Indians are taking a hard look at former Cubs closer Kerry Wood. ... Free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, who earned a record 62 saves last season, has met with the New York Mets and says he will stay in Las Vegas until Wednesday. ''It's going well with them,'' Rodriguez said. ''We're open to anyone who wants to talk to us.''
Author:Fox Sports
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: December 9, 2008
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