Dec. 9 -- WRAPPING UP DAY 2

BY SCOTT LAUBER

LAS VEGAS -- During a meeting with reporters this evening in his sweet suite on the 31st floor of the Bellagio, Ruben Amaro Jr. sounded like a GM with an itchy trigger finger.

"We've discussed a variety of opportunities, and there are some deals out there that if a club or some clubs would say yes, it would get done," Amaro said. "But I can't tell you that anything is imminent because that word doesn't come freely."

Moments later, he added, "If there's a deal that I feel would make our club better, then I'll go ahead and move on it, and these clubs know that. There's not too many teams waiting on me."

So, what's the hold up?

Well, with regard to the complex deal involving Jake Peavy, it's a matter of perception. The Padres want to unload Peavy's salary, but his no-trade clause limits GM Kevin Towers' possibilities. Peavy is willing to waive his no-trade to go to the Cubs, who would prefer to deal only with the Padres. "I'm much better served one on one," Cubs GM Jim Hendry told Chicago reporters. "I'm not quite as efficient as Theo [Epstein] or Billy Beane in multi-tasking, so I keep it as simple as I can."

But the Padres and Cubs are having difficulty matching up, in part because the Cubs don't have enough prospects to lure Peavy and also because Peavy is owed a minimum of $63 million over the next four years and the Cubs are up for sale. So, several teams, including the Phillies, seemingly are trying to step in and vulture a player (Mark DeRosa) from the Cubs' roster to "help" the teams complete the deal. Makes sense, right? DeRosa batted .285 with 21 homers and 87 RBIs last season and would give the Phils second-base insurance until Chase Utley is ready to play. Once Utley comes back, DeRosa could be the right-handed half of a platoon in left field.

You can understand, though, why the Cubs wouldn't want to part with him, especially if they don't have to. And since the Padres can't trade Peavy just anywhere, the Cubs don't think they have to compromise to get him. Eventually, the Cubs think, the Padres either will have to trade Peavy to them or not at all.

Meanwhile, Amaro waits to see who blinks first: Hendry or Towers.

***
Amaro admitted the Phillies are interested in free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe. He even said they could handle a lucrative, long-term contract, depending on how it's structured. (I would think the Phils would want to front-load the deal, so that Lowe doesn't clog up the payroll down the road when Cole Hamels and several of the Phillies' other arbitration-eligible players are making really big bucks).

But Lowe is represented by Scott Boras, and if we know anything about Boras, it's that he will make sure his client gets the best deal. For Lowe, the best deal won't come until after CC Sabathia signs, and Sabathia isn't expected to sign until next week. If the Yankees get Sabathia, the Phillies have a better shot at getting Lowe. But if Sabathia signs somewhere else (the Giants are interested, and Sabathia is a Bay Area native), Lowe could be the Yankees' consolation prize. The Yankees could conceivably throw Monopoly money at Lowe (a five-year, $80 million contract would be possible), taking the Phillies out of the equation.

So, once again, Amaro waits.

That's all for now. But we'll be back tomorrow with much more.