Braves discuss trade for Padres’ Peavy

The Braves are trying to fill their biggest need by trading for San Diego right-hander Jake Peavy, a top-tier major-league ace with a Cy Young award and a Southern drawl to boot.

A person familiar with the talks said the Braves and Padres have discussed a potential blockbuster trade that would bring the Alabama native to Atlanta for a package that would include at least three Braves prospects.

Peavy, 27, has an 82-62 record and 3.25 ERA in 199 starts for San Diego, with a franchise-record 1,256 strikeouts in 1,261 innings. He won the Cy Young award in 2007 after leading the National League in wins (19), ERA (2.24) and strikeouts (240).

He’s under contract for four more years with salaries of $11 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012, plus a $22 million option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout.

He has a full no-trade clause, but Peavy has told friends he would waive the clause to come to Atlanta or another National League team with playoff potential, including St. Louis or Houston.

Peavy grew up in Semmes, Ala., outside Mobile, cheering for the Braves. He’s an avid hunter and still spends much of the offseason in Alabama with his wife and children. Peavy has said he would prefer to remain with San Diego on a winning team, but the 99-loss Padres might be rebuilding.

His contract is considered to be less than free-agent market value for a pitcher of his ilk. San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said he would listen to offers for Peavy after a season that has Towers looking to restock with young talent.

Braves general manager Frank Wren would not comment on the Peavy situation or confirm whether the Braves were pursuing him.

The person familiar with the talks said if Peavy is traded, it could be as soon as this week or as late as after the December winter meetings. Baseball’s general managers meetings are Nov. 3-6 at Dana Point, Calif. Towers has rarely been predictable.

The Braves have missed the playoffs three consecutive years, in part because of injuries that hobbled an aging pitching staff. Wren publicly stated the team’s determination to acquire two proven starting pitchers and a power-hitting outfielder this winter.

The Braves are believed to have at least $40 million available for 2009 additions, and Wren said the team would use its assets however necessary to fill its needs, through trade or free agency.

Those assets include cash and plenty of sought-after prospects in the minor-league system, though Wren said he didn’t plan to trade top-rated members of what he called the “next wave” of talent that the Braves hope will infuse the club in coming years.

Five-tool outfielder Jason Heyward and 17-year-old pitcher Julio Teheran are considered close to untouchable prospects, and pitcher Tommy Hanson and slugging first baseman Freddie Freeman might not be far behind in terms of being off limits.

The Braves also would like to keep elite center-field prospects Jordan Schafer and Gorkys Hernandez, possibly envisioning a future outfield of Heyward and Schafer flanking speedy Hernandez.

It remains to be seen whether the Padres would deal Peavy without getting at least one of those prospects.

The Braves could offer a package built around a middle infielder — Yunel Escobar or Kelly Johnson? — and prospects from among catcher Tyler Flowers, pitchers Charlie Morton and Kris Medlen, or others.

Peavy features a 92-96 mph fastball and a fine changeup, plus a slider and curveball and has averaged 192 innings and 194 strikeouts in six full seasons.

He has been on the disabled list twice for elbow problems, in 2004 and this past May, when an MRI showed only a strain.

After going 58-33 in a four-season span, he was 10-11 in 2008 despite a 2.85 ERA. The Padres’ anemic offense provided one or no support runs while he was in eight games.