I wonder if the Gonzalez talks, in part, is Theo trying to be tricky and soften the Padres up for a possible Peavy trade this winter. Towers is a guy he has experience trading with, and the two know each other as well any GM pair right now. Theo could try and spin it so that by giving all of these guys to SD for Gonzalez (i.e. overpaying badly), Towers got a better-than-expected haul of that deal, and now can afford to sell Peavy, who's coming off an injury that lessens his trade value, for a realistic, even buyer-friendly price. Theo could be Billy Beane about it, in that he may just browbeat Towers into believing this, or it may just be a buddy thing of sorts.
Out there theory, I know, but it crossed my mind and intrigued me.