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Padres GM Kevin Towers said it is still most likely that ace Jake Peavy will get traded to an NL team (the Braves remain the front-runner), but that the righty also has given his approval to be dealt to the Yankees New York Yankees or Angels, as well.

However, Peavy's rep, Barry Axelrod, said, "We have not given approval for those two teams and we haven't even been asked to say yes or no." Axelrod, in fact, said Peavy would almost certainly ask for additional conditions (read more money) to consider going to a team such as the Yankees.

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Playing with (Derek) Jeter, playing for the pinstripes,'' Towers said, the idea rumbling around to give him a New York state of mind. "It's down the list; he wants to stay in the National League.

"But if that doesn't work out, we maybe go back to them and ask them if they would consider New York.''

The Yankees possess two things that the Padres seek: money and prospects. If the Steinbrenners give Peavy some green, and send some green players to San Diego, who knows?

"It's probably the only American League team Jake would consider. He talks with Derek Jeter all the time,'' the Encinitas-based Axelrod said. "He said to me at one point, 'Gosh, every kid growing up dreams about the pinstripes.' "

Even an Alabama native accustomed to the sleepy backcountry instead of a city that never sleeps?

"He wouldn't even be intimidated by pitching in Yankee Stadium ---- he is not Ed Whitson," Axelrod said. "He would go back there and face up to the challenge and the fans would love him, even though he is a country boy. They would love that competitiveness."