Mistakes by lake?

The Cleveland Indians are assembling the all-what-if free agents. Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa and now pitcher Carl Pavano give Cleveland a threesome of as many questions as answers heading into spring training.

Wood established himself as a closer last year, but there will always be health qustions with him. Can DeRosa's career year with the Cubs be replicated in 2009? Pavano is a health nightmare. Somebody must own a voodoo doll of him.

The Yankees paid $39.95 million to Pavano, who made just 26 starts in four seasons because of injuries. His contract with the Indians includes incentives beginning with his 18th start and can grow to $5.3 million.

Pavano had reconstructive elbow surgery in 2007, when he was the unlikely opening-day starter for the Yankees after missing a full season. He returned last August and went 4-2 with a 5.77 earned run average in seven starts.

“He feels he’s in tremendous shape,” O’Connell said. “The Cleveland people were very impressed with his physique. He’s as strong as an ox.”

Strong like bull, but brittle like peanut brittle.

Fantasy Impact: Wood and DeRosa can put up solid numbers. Wood will get his 35 saves in Cleveland while DeRosa's versatility makes him attractive as a utility player. Pavano is an intriguing X-factor. Draft him late, hoping he can become a very low-cost 5th starter.

Padres still working Peavy deal with Cubs

News on the Jake Peavy trade front out of San Diego says no deal is likely with the Cubs until after the winter meetings. Padres GM Kevin Towers, who's talked very freely about trading Peavy all offseason, was at it again on Tuesday.

"It looks more likely today," Towers said late Tuesday afternoon.

Towers, who has said a deal "definitely" would involve a third team, said talks "could speed up" soon if Cubs GM Jim Hendry can make a corresponding move that would allow him to assume Peavy's contract, which guarantees Peavy $63 million over the next four years.

But, he added, "Jim and I both kind of agree that if we can't come to some sort of agreement by Thursday, it's probably not going to happen."

The Cubs continue to try to work with the Phillies to move Mark DeRosa in order to free up salary, and a fourth team could get involved. Jason Marquis has also replaced Sean Marshall in the deal.

It sounds like something might get done, but if the teams continue to get hung up on the prospects involved in the deal, who knows? San Diego needs to get a haul if they're going to give up one of the top young pitchers in baseball.