JAKE PEAVY WAIVES NO-TRADE TO PLAY FOR SOX
By JERRY RILES
The White Sox push toward the playoffs and World Series inched a little closer on the final day of trades as GM Kenny Williams landed Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres hours before deadline.
The South-Siders acquired the All-Star pitcher in exchange for four players. Those players included Clayton Richards, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter, and Adam Russell.
Peavy has been on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his right ankle since June 13th, but he is expected to begin rehab. Dr. Steve Copp gave the right-hander a clean bill of health on Thursday and the protective boot he was wearing has been removed.
The Cy Young Award winner is expected back in action by late August just in time for a playoff push. He will certainly be tested at that time because the Sox will be on the east coast to face Boston and the Yankees to close out the month.
They then head to Minnesota to begin the month of September, and the Twins have owned the Sox in the Metrodome this season.
With a 6-6 record in 13 starts this season, Peavy has an ERA of 3.97 with 92 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched for San Diego.
Back in May, Peavy nixed a deal that would have brought him over to the South-side in exchange for Richards and some minor leaguers. When the deal didn’t go through many wondered if it was just a ploy by Williams, the Padres, Peavy and his agent, or all of the above.
No more guess work needed now. It’s apparent the ace pitcher wanted to be in a winning situation that’s why he waived his no-trade clause. Forget the speculation that he wanted to stay in the National League. Forget the fact that the Cubs were gunning for him since last November. Williams’ aggressive approach got the job done.
Does this move make Williams the best GM in the majors? Will this solidify the Sox a spot in the Fall Classic or is it just a mirage?
Skeptics believe Peavy will not have as much success pitching in the Cell because of its dimensions. It’s called a band-box and a hitter’s paradise.
The Field dimensions are 330 feet down the leftfield line, 400 feet to straightaway center, and 372 feet down the right field line.
Peavy is 2-2 on the road with one of those losses to the Cubs at Wrigley Field back on May 12th where the North Siders defeated the Padres 6-3.
At worst, if Peavy does not pan out they way the Sox and Williams expects down the road, his performance will more than likely match that of what Richards’ probably would’ve accomplished on the South-Side this 2009 campaign.
But, if Williams is on point with this, the one-two punch of Peavy and perfect game hurler Mark Beuhrle can make things a lot interesting come September and perhaps October.
The Sox push toward the 2009 playoffs and World Series has inched just a little bit closer here in Chicago.
(Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye) click here
