Where in the World is Jake Peavy? The Swirling Trade Rumors

February 19, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher

(44) poses for a picture during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The trade that seemed to be imminent… still hasn’t happened.

Jake Peavy being traded doesn’t come as that big of a surprise since the speculation around Peavy has been going on for weeks when the White Sox made it clear that Peavy, and basically every one on their team, aside from Chris Sale and Paul Konerko, were available. This season, the 2007 Cy Young award winner has an 8-4 record with a 4.28 earned run average. 

But the A’s weren’t among the many mentioned teams until they poked out as the black horse front-runners. With Brett Anderson’s foot injury, the A’s apparently don’t want to risk being short a veteran pitcher as the trade deadline becomes closer.

The A’s are among multiple teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, who are in the running for Peavy, who made his major league debut for the Padres in 2002. Though he’s pitched 12 seasons, the 2012 Gold Glove award winner has only appeared in two playoff games, for the Padres in 2004 and 2005, losing both with a combined ERA of 12.10.

Earlier today, it was reported by ESPN that Peavy was seen cleaning out his locker and walking with a clubhouse attendant who was carrying five suitcases.

Peavy, who recorded the pitcher’s triple-crown in 2007, has been a ghost of his former self the past few seasons mostly due to multiple injuries, including a torn latissimus dorsi tendon in 2010. 2009 was the last season that the now 32-year-old right hander finished with a winning record (9-6).

That 2009 season, coincidentally, is the same season Peavy was sent from the Padres to the White Sox. Peavy went 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA for the White Sox down the stretch.

Peavy finished the 2012 season with a record of 11-12 and an ERA of 3.37. Following the season, Peavy signed a two-year extension worth $29 million with a vesting option for 2015.

The cost would clearly be the main setback for the proposed trades as well as hesitance towards how many prospects to send to Chicago if White Sox aren’t willing to take on any of Peavy’s salary.