Q: I see all these extensions happening for other players, and I’m starting to worry that the Padres will lose Jake Peavy in free agency. I know he still has two years left on his contract, with one of those being a team option. But when will they start negotiations with Peavy in regards to an extension?
-- Joseph, San Diego

A: I think the Padres have a couple of important factors working in their favor as far as hanging onto Peavy goes. You are correct on the contract situation -- Peavy will make at least $6 million in 2008, with the possibility of performance incentives kicking in and raising that number to $6.5 million, and the team option is $8 million in 2009 with incentives that could raise it to $11 million--– still a reasonable price for one of the game’s best starting pitchers.

As for 2010 and beyond, ask yourself this question, Joseph -- what pitcher wouldn’t want to pitch half his games in Petco Park? That, plus the wonderful city San Diego is, tends to keep players there. You didn’t see Tony Gwynn or Trevor Hoffman ever go anywhere else, did you?

Peavy also strikes me as a team guy, down-home and very humble, especially considering his talent and accomplishments. What I’m getting at is I don’t think he would want to go to a bigger market -- New York, Los Angeles -- to satisfy any need for attention, endorsements or huge money.

Another factor is that his agent -- Barry Axelrod -- kept clients Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell anchored in Houston, so there is a history there. I’d say as long as the Padres offer fair market value to Peavy in the next year or so, I think there is a very good chance he stays put. If I were him, that’s what I would do.                     

Q: With all the free agents and the big deal Ichiro received, what do you think is in store for the Braves’ Andruw Jones? Will the Braves benefit more in trading him, or re-signing him?
-- Andrew Potter, Andover, Kansas

A: The only thing that appears certain at this point is Andruw has cost himself a lot of money this winter in the free-agent market. After the deals signed last winter by Alfonso Soriano and Vernon Wells in the $125-million range, I’m sure Jones was thinking along those lines. Now, unless he has a monster second half, he is looking at a shorter-term deal for much less money, and possibly could be facing a scenario where he signs a one-year deal, and then reestablishes his market value with a typically big 2008 season.

That latter possibility definitely would improve the Braves’ chances of hanging onto him, and I’m sure there is a big part of Jones that wants to stay put. After all, Bobby Cox is the only manager he has played for in his big-league career. But unless there is a marked change in direction by the new ownership, the Braves couldn’t/wouldn’t give him a Soriano-Wells deal.

Q: Is there any hope for the Reds in the near future -- the next two seasons?
-- Josh Fain, Lexington, Ky.

A: This sure has been a disappointing year in Cincinnati, hasn’t it? To me, it started last winter, when owner Bob Castellini, who has talked about restoring the franchise to its former level, didn’t really push the envelope much in terms of bumping up the payroll. As a result, the Reds’ biggest move was signing defensive shortstop Alex Gonzalez, while doing little to fill pitching-staff holes.

Then with Bronson Arroyo struggling and Eric Milton going down, the starting pitching has been very short, and as a result, has overexposed the bullpen. Homer Bailey also wasn’t the answer, so now the Reds are looking at salvaging a 70-75-win season.

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To me, I don’t see things changing much in the next two years, either. They need Bailey, Phil Dumatrait, Joey Votto and perhaps another prospect or two to pop at the big-league level. And they absolutely have to get more pitching without giving up too much offense to get it, as they are short on power production, especially at the infield corners.

A lot of things are going to have to turn around and go right, and the payroll likely will have to climb for the Reds to improve markedly. At least they have the advantage of playing in a bad division, which will make the task easier.

Q: Can the Atlanta Braves get a starting pitcher before the deadline, or will they rely on their minor-league talent?
-- Ronald, Makati, Phillipines

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A: They had interest in Mark Buehrle before he re-signed with the White Sox, so I’m sure they are exploring other options now. The problem is, they won’t put Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Yunel Escobar in any deal -- and I don’t blame them -- so that likely will keep them from landing a front-line starting pitcher. Besides, there just aren’t many quality starters on the market at this point, so they may wait until very close to the deadline to do something, if at all. Or, they could chose to address the bullpen or other spots such as first base, where they have brought back 49-year-old Julio Franco.

In the meantime, they currently are giving one of their own -- Jo Jo Reyes -- an opportunity, and he has pitched fairly well so far. But if anybody can get something done around deadline time, it’s GM John Schuerholz and his gang of scouts. Some leading starting pitcher possibilities: Matt Morris, Jose Contreras, Kyle Lohse and Joe Kennedy. I don’t think the Marlins would trade Dontrelle Willis to a division rival -- if he even is available, which isn’t certain at this point.

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