San Diego Padres Pitcher Jake Peavy Rejects Trade to Chicago White Sox

Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Diego Padres pitching staff, said that after talking to friends and family, he would decline the trade to the Chicago White Sox. The trade details had Peavy going to the White Sox for four players. The Padres and White Sox agreed on the trade, but because Peavy had a no-trade clause in his contract, it was ultimately his decision. Peavy had said in the past that if he would be traded, that he would like to stay in the National League.

Peavy has played for only one team his whole MLB career, the San Diego Padres, and said that he would like to stay with the Padres for now. Peavy has been with the Padres since 2002, emerging as the ace of the team in 2004, ending with a record of 15-6. In 2005, he led the Padres to the playoffs and winning their first round series against the Cardinals. After a rocky 2006 season, Peavy played another All-Star season in 2007 winning the pitching Triple Crown, leading the National League with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA. That same year, he signed a 4-year extension with the Padres. Peavy ended the 2008 season with only a 10-11 record, but had very low run support and finished the season with a 2.85 ERA. Peavy has a record of 3-5 with an ERA of 3.82 this season. Peavy's other accomplishments include being selected to the All-Star game twice (2005 and 2007) and winning the 2007 NL Cy Young Award.

The Padres have struggled the last couple of years and lost a total of 99 games last year. They were trying to trade Peavy to cut their payroll. Peavy will earn $11 million this season, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011, and $17 million in 2012. The Padres also have a $22 million option for 2013.

The Chicago White Sox, currently 17-23 and fourth in the AL Central, need pitching desperately and Peavy would of given them a big boost. The White Sox lost their latest game against the Minnesota Twins 20-1, the most lopsided loss in team history. Mark Buehrle has been the only reliable pitcher for the White Sox. All the other starting pitchers have an ERA of 4.00+ and have losing records.

Three teams that are interested in Peavy are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs but have yet to make offers.

In Peavy's most recent start, he pitched his best game of the season, pitching a complete game 4-hitter, giving up only one earned run in a 3-1 victory.