Via Pete Caldera -
Free agency isn’t the Yankees’ only route toward restocking their starting rotation.
If the Padres are rebuilding, then unanimous 2007 NL Cy Young award winnner Jake Peavy might ask to relocate. And, in the right scenario, the 27-year-old right-hander could switch leagues.
“We’ve talked about it,” Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod, said by phone on Thursday. “His first choice, clearly, is to be on the Padres, and on a winning team with the Padres.”
But if San Diego decided it would be more beneficial to move Peavy in a blockbuster deal, or to free up salary, then Peavy would consider waiving his no-trade clause — depending upon the location.
In recent conversations with Peavy, Axelrod said there are “three teams in the AL that could entice him.”
Axelrod did not specifically mention the Yankees, but said, “Any kid, you’d imagine, always thinks about wearing the pinstripes some day. But it’d be a pretty significant move for him.”
Any potential deal with the Yankees would probably hinge on guaranteeing his $22 million club option for 2013, or restructuring the contract to raise Peavy’s base to more than $16 million per season.
For what it’s worth, the start of Peavy’s career matched that of Josh Beckett. And, over the last three seasons, Peavy (56 RSAA in 599.1 IP) has better numbers than Beckett (38 RSAA in 579.2 IP).
But, is Peavy a “stud” ace? I dunno…
Over the last three seasons, Derek Lowe (54 RCAA in 628.1 IP) has posted numbers close to what Peavy has done. Granted, Lowe is 8 years older than Peavy. But, is Derek Lowe a “stud”? Not really – but he’s a solid number three guy. To me, Peavy is slightly better than…say…Aaron Cook – but, he’s not as good as Roy Oswalt.
This all said, if I were the Yankees, would I consider trading Robinson Cano and Phil Hughes for Jake Peavy?
Well, first of all, Brian Cashman…I believe…would never do that. Cashman would rather stand completely nude in the middle of Times Square during rush hour and sing Touch Me In The Morning than consider the notion of trading Phil Hughes.
But, when you consider the Yankees need for proven starting pitching, and the market for such animals, then I would suggest that New York, if asked about Cano and Hughes for Peavy, should give the notion some long, hard, study.
Yeah, it’s a risky notion. And, it opens up the debate of “Why didn’t you offer Hughes and Cano for Johan Santana last year?” But, if you’re of the camp that says Cano has a ‘tude and is a hacker at the plate, and if you’re also of the camp that says Hughes’ career will probably fall somewhere in the middle between Carl Pavano and Andy Benes…and mirror someone along the level of Aaron Sele, then you just might be willing to consider trading them for someone like Jake Peavy.
17 Responses to “Jake Peavy”
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October 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I don’t think you can compare this to Santana. In that deal the Yankees were trading prospects + having to negotiate a 6 year deal with him.
In this deal the Yanks would just have to trade prospects….Peavey is already locked in a reasonable rate for the next 5 years. I think you have to do it for either Peavey or Adrian Gonzalez.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Why trade for Peavy when you can just give CC Sabathia to the vault at the New York Fed? Sabathia’s better in my mind, anyway.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:39 am
*the keys to the vault…
October 10th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I think you are grossly underestimating Peavy. Suggesting he is only slightly better than Aaron Cook is particularly off base. Cook, who is two years older, has a career ERA+ of 111 with a peak season (150+ innings) of 117. He also K’s less than 4.5/9inn with a very high hit/inn rate. Peavy, meanwhile, has a career ERA+ of 121 with a peak value of 159. He has also been above 134 in 4 of the last 5 years, while stirking out about 1 batter per inning and giving up much fewer hits.
In other words, Peavy has shown significant streches of being a stud, while Cook has evened out around middle rotation level.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:46 am
After this week, the vault at the Fed might not have enough money for CC. Of course, if you can sign Sabathia, it makes sense. But, until his names is on a contract, you need to explore quality contingencies. Peavy would definitely qualify as one.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:53 am
~~~Suggesting he is only slightly better than Aaron Cook is particularly off base.~~~
Really?
From 2006 through 2008:
Jake Peavy 56 RSAA in 599.1 IP
Aaron Cook 40 RSAA in 590 IP
October 10th, 2008 at 8:59 am
We all understand now that the Yankees are making it their priority this offseason to obtain high quality veteran arms.
I dont see why you wouldnt sign Sabathia, and then trade Hughes and Cano for Peavy.
and given that you have options to play 2B in the market to replace Cano in the short term, it makes sense to utilize his value for a front end rotation guy if he is available.
think about a rotation that could send out Sabathia, Wang, Peavy, Pettitte, and Joba every 5 days. thats disgusting.
and you’d have the “Sabathia, Wang, Peavy, Joba” core for the next 4 years at least, right?
NY/SD have had a good relationship in dealing with each other seemingly over the years. it might be hard be hard for Cashman to part with the jewels of his system right now, but this isnt for some run of the mill player, or pitcher on the wrong side of 35… high end player that fits into a longer term strategy.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am
He also pitches in the NL West…I’d pass, personally
October 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am
“He also pitches in the NL West”
not that I’m mr. statistician myself, but this is pretty lazy reasoning. if you watch the guy pitch, you realize he’s got great stuff.
the only problem Peavy gets himself into is his tendency to try and strike too many people out instead of pitching to contact at times… winds up throwing too many pitches.
i think thats more of a pitching mentality or philosophy thing on the mound then talent and ability for him.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Peavy has always struggled outside of his home park.
I would rather sign CC and AJ….Keep hold of Cano and then see how Hughes fares in the first month of AAA ball next season.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:04 am
If you want to focus on RSAA since 2006 (which happens to be Peavy’s only non-great year since 2004) fine, but then you miss the point about projecting who will be the better pitcher going forward. Cook has settled into a level that defines middle of the rotation, while Peavy has show that he can be dominant. Peavy is also 2 years younger than Cook, which is significant for a pitcher.
What’s more, the difference in RSAA is not insignificant, especially when you consider Peavy had a poor 2006 (probably from pitching most of the season with an injury).
October 10th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Peavy’s road/home splits are relevant, but if you go year-by year, he has pretty much been equally good most seasons (see 2004, 2005 and 2007). Still, it is something to consider, but not concerning enough to mitigate against all of the other positives.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Interesting, but maybe only if Hughes was 3 years older and still hadn’t pitched to his potential… But by that point, I’m sure San Diego wouldn’t do the deal.
Maybe also if this *last* offseason and it was a 1 for 1 deal…
Moose, Peavy, Joba and Wang for the whole year would have been pretty nice.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I wouldn’t trade cano or hughes for peavy. There seems to be an all around consensus that if a guy has one relatively bad year and a guy that is 22 yrs old and still needed some development in the minors, let’s get rid of them for a more established player that we will have to pay millions to play for us. I understand everyone’s attitude towards cano, but he had a bad first couple of months, but the rest of the season wasn’t bad. He definitely missed Bowa, but why trade him at the low end of his value and then go after a 31 yr old that we may not get. If the yanks do not get hudson, who plays second?
On to phil, he doesn’t get traded for santana, he knows that his name was in the mix and he was named to the rotation. He wanted to do his best, was probably nervous about the whole thing, couldn’t see the signs, etc. One thing, do not believe that Kennedy was NEVER part of any offer for santana.
Peavy pitched against the Yankees this year and posted a 6.75 ERA, lasted only 4 innings. Do you seriously want a guy that has only pitched in the NL West?
Do not get me wrong, I would try to make a multiplayer deal getting him & A. gonzalez in a large deal.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
“Do you seriously want a guy that has only pitched in the NL West?”
i guess you answer your own question, right?
“Do not get me wrong, I would try to make a multiplayer deal getting him & A. gonzalez in a large deal.”
October 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Its a good thing you are one of the few who think Phil Hughes will end up being Carl Pavano, Andy Benes or Aaron Sele, however, if you can make a trade for Adrian Gonzalez AND Jake Peavey I think you have to take a look at it. Hypothetically, if you are Brian Cashman and you can make that trade AND sign C.C. you have a rotation of Sabathia, Wang, Peavey, Chamberlain and whoever with the solid bullpen of young arms and the offense returns to form…that sounds like a winner to me.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
The geniuses want Burnett probably and that is an accident waiting to happen. He will break down and Waldman and the other yankee shills will whine. Well you wanted him right? Peavy hasn’t pitched in the AL but anyone is a better fit than AJ. Lowe, Peavy and CC are ill far preferable to AJ, who will be another blunder a la Igawa and Pavano.