Peavy to the Sox?? No!!!!

The San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have agreed to a deal that would send RHP-Jake Peavy to Chicago.  The Padres would get LHP-Clayton Richard and LHP-Aaron Poreda in return.  Richard (5) and Poreda (3) are both top 5 prospects in the Sox organization according to Baseball America.

The deal makes some sense for the Padres since they get 2 major league ready arms with upside.  Richard is already pitching for the White Sox and has a 4.33 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 27.0 innings pitched.  I have seen Richard pitch a few times this season and have been less than impressed, but he is only 25 and still getting his feet wet at the major league level.  Poreda has been pitching for Double-A Birmingham this season.  For his career, the 22 year old has a 2.67 ERA and 1.129 WHIP in 246.1 minor league innings.  San Diego also gets out of paying Peavy the $47-69 million he is owed over the next several years.

The White Sox would obviously get Jake Peavy who, when healthy, is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.  Peavy has a no-trade clause and can refuse the trade.  He claims he wants to stay in the NL so if the White Sox want to get him they are likely going to have to guarantee to pay him the $22 million option on his contract for the 2013 season.  Even though he has a very hefty contract, I am surprised that the Padres aren’t getting more in return for the services of Peavy.

If this trade happens, the dynamic of the AL Central shifts significantly and that is not good news for the Royals.  Adding Peavy to the top of a rotation that already includes Buehrle, Danks, Floyd, and a surprisingly servicable Bartolo Colon would give the White Sox the unquestioned best rotation in the division.  The White Sox would finally have a true ace on par with Greinke, Lee, and Verlander and already possess a decent bullpen and offense.

Despite all the media hype, I don’t buy the 2009 Detroit Tigers as contenders and have come to believe that the Royals would win the AL Central.  If this trade happens, the White Sox become the favorite to win the division unless Dayton Moore can find a way to answer with a significant move of his own.

Personally this sucks because Peavy has been one of my favorite pitchers to watch.  If he goes to the White Sox I have no choice but to immediately start hating him.

Please Jake, take pity on us long suffering Royals fans and refuse the deal.  Unless you end up coming to KC, just stay in the NL.  You don’t want to deal with Ozzie Guillen anyway.