White Sox Trade for Jake Peavy Before Trade Deadline
Friday night White Sox G.M. Kenny Williams pulled a rabbit out his hat acquiring San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy in the waining hours of the MLB training deadline. ... Williams had been in the running for Peavy earlier in the year when it seemed the right hander would be on the move. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was pleased with the last second trade,"I was shocked, we got better and now we got one guy we wanted for a long time." The White Sox trail division leaders Detroit Tigers who earlier in the day picked up Seattle Mariners lefty Jarrod Washburn. Williams dealt four young White Sox pitching prospects for Peavy: Dexter Carter, Aaron Poreda, Adam Russell, Clayton Richard. The catch is that Peavy has been on DL for over a month with a right ankle injury. The 2007 CY Young winner should be ready to pitch by the end of August after a few rehab starts in the minors.
So what do the White Sox get in Jake Peavy? They add a ace pitcher to a staff that includes Mark Buerhle, Gavin Floyd, Jose Contreras, and John Danks. Peavy has a career ERA of 3.29 and was the pitcher in baseball hands down in 2007 with a 19-6 record, The main hope for the trade is to give the Sox a another great arm for September when they are battling for the central division title or for the Wild Card. Its always a risk trading for a player who isn't healthy, but White Sox fans can't complain that their G.M. doesn't have guts. Respect to Kenny Williams for pulling the trigger. This move certainly will make the next few months interesting on the south side of Chicago.