"The odds are the same," the source said.

The Padres maintain that they only will trade Peavy if the deal makes baseball sense. However, their season ticket sales have dropped from about 15,000 in 2008 to "well below" 10,000, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The increasing financial pressure might compel the Padres to move Peavy, particularly if they could land a package from the Cubs headed by minor-league third baseman Josh Vitters, a top hitting prospect.

The teams have had no recent conversations; the Cubs are in the middle of their own ownership transition, and remain unsure whether their prospective new owners, the Ricketts family, will be willing to add payroll.

Peavy, 27, is owed $59 million over the next four seasons, and his contract includes a $22 million club option or $4 million buyout for 2013. He could require the Cubs to exercise his option in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause.

Will Nomar play?

Free-agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra, who continues to draw interest from the Phillies, is trying to decide whether he is physically sound enough to play next season.

"He's testing his legs and making sure he's healthy," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says. "He's being tremendously respectful to himself and to us. He doesn't want to put himself in a position where we're relying on him and he's not going to be able to perform."

Both the Phillies and Giants pursued infielder Ty Wigginton, who agreed to a two-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Orioles on Tuesday. The Phillies actually were confident of landing Wigginton for the right-handed hitting reserve role they envision for Garciaparra. The Orioles, however, offered Wigginton a better deal and more playing time.