October 02, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (33) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

That’s relevant to the Royals in two ways. First, it takes another potential starter off the market, but more directly, it’s a deal could set the market for other starters, specifically Jeremy Guthrie. The righty is likely to test the free agent market, though the Royals have exclusive negotiating rights with him until Saturday. Guthrie will be 34 next April, which is just old enough to be scary, but not old enough to be expecting a collapse. As he showed in his half season with the Royals, Guthrie isn’t the same guy they saw in Colorado and reestablished value.

He doesn’t have the track record of Peavy, who was a two time All-Star and the National League’s Cy Young winner in 2007, but Guthrie has been a slightly better than average starter through his career who can put in a lot of innings.

In other words, he’ll cash in.

So if Peavy gets two years and an option, that sounds like a good kind of baseline for Guthrie’s deal. The Royals need pitchers for 2013, but they don’t seem to want to dig deep to keep older pitchers over long-term deals. Over two years, the Royals could take advantage of Guthrie’s skills, but he wouldn’t be blocking anyone by 2015 (assuming the hypothetical option year wasn’t exercised), and by that time, the Royals could have Jake Odorizzi, Kyle Zimmer, Yordano Ventura and John Lamb ready as well as Danny Duffy and/or Felipe Paulino.

Guthrie has a 103 ERA+ for his career and 106 in the American League. Peavy, who is younger with more upside, has a 110 ERA+ in the AL. As for the dollars, Guthrie won’t get the $29 million Peavy will be getting, but Peavy’s deal seems to put two years and $22 million at the starting point in my mind. More than that wouldn’t surprise me either, but it’s not likely he’ll beat Peavy’s deal, so there’s a limit in place as well. That allows for some projectivity, which is good for the Royals who are looking to keep payroll under control and can’t afford a bidding war.

It’s up to Guthrie. He likely wants to try to cash in his last big contract, but if those offers aren’t out there, he may turn back to the Royals and spend a couple more years in Kansas City.

If the Royals aren’t going to be in a playoff race, the least we can do is talk about it with someone whose team is.

Nick Schaefer from FanSided’s Southside Showdown joined us to talk about the White Sox division lead and their struggles against the Royals this year. In 18 games, the White Sox only scored 52 runs, leading to a 12-6 head to head advantage for the Royals. Nick had his theories.

We also talked about some of the Royals needs this offseason and continued to guess at the solutions for pitching next season. Nick offered his insight on Jake Peavy and his concern that the White Sox will try to keep him. We brought up Jeremy Guthrie, Edwin Jackson and Brandon McCarthy as potential options.

We finished up with some discussion of the Royals successful months (yes, there were some), and if it means anything. To his credit, Nick assured us that it’ll all be better soon. We’ll see about that …

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After Ian Desmond decided to skip the All-Star Game to rest a nagging oblique injury, Michael Bourn was added to the National League roster to represent Atlanta. Then Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins announced that he’d miss the game as well due to “loose bodies” in his knee that may require surgery. Stanton was due to perform in the Home Run Derby on Monday as well but will miss that as well. Bryce Harper was added to fill his spot in the game and Andrew McCutchen will swing for the fences in his place in the Derby.

Both Bourn and Harper finished behind Cardinal David Freese in the fan’s Final Vote after Chipper Jones had been taken off the ballot and added to the NL roster to replace Matt Kemp. Aaron Hill of Arizona is the only player from the Final Vote who hasn’t been added to the team’s roster.

Jake Peavy was added to the American League roster after C.J. Wilson was scratched due to a blister.

Matt Holliday was added to the NL team after a death in the family made Yadier Molina unavailable for the game, as well.

In other news, Justin Verlander is being reported as the American League’s starter on Tuesday. He’s sitting on a 2.58 ERA and 128/30 K/BB ratio in 132.2 innings for Detroit.

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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.