In Nick Cafardo's baseball notes column in today's Boston Globe, Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis had some kind words for Padres pitcher and Team USA teammate Jake Peavy, even going so far as to say he'd be a nice addition to the Sox' rotation.



Of course he would. He'd look nice in any rotation. Problem is, Peavy, whose name has come up ad nauseam in trade talks this winter, has very vocally expressed his reticence to pitching in the American League.



My question is: What would Boston, which has a LOADED farm system, have to give up to get Peavy?



My guess is it would take two top pitching prospects, i.e. Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson or Nick Hagadone, and one or two lesser position-player prospects, perhaps a Josh Reddick, Zach Daeges or (if you keep him at shortstop) Casey Kelly.



That's an awfully steep price, but Peavy's an awfully good pitcher.

If I'm Theo Epstein, I offer Bowden, Anderson and Reddick, mostly because with Youkilis and Ellsbury in place at first and center, Anderson and Reddick may be without a position. Thus, they are expendable.

What do you think?