MVN: Most Valuable Network

Two interesting tidbits from Buster Olney on the Cubs:

The Jake Peavy talks between the Cubs and Padres are essentially on hold at this point, as the Cubs' ownership situation is settled. Once that process moves along, the talks figure to re-start; the Cubs keep telling the Padres that they are seriously interested, and the teams have a basic framework in place, built around Josh Vitters. The Padres remain under enormous pressure to cut payroll and move Peavy's salary -- which, day by day, doesn't look like the kind of sweetheart deal that it looked like at the beginning of the offseason.

And:

Sure, the Cubs would love to have Adam Dunn in their lineup. But the problem is that in the end, they probably can't seriously consider playing the defensively challenged Dunn in one corner outfield spot, as the other bookend to the defensively challenged Alfonso Soriano. And given the current market conditions, there's virtually no chance of them moving Soriano's contract. Dunn continues to put himself in position for a bigger and better season, through conditioning; he's dropped 14 pounds so far in this offseason.

Four days until the winter meetings.

Labels: Adam Dunn, Chicago Cubs, Cubs Rumor Mill, Jake Peavy