One thing that I've always liked about Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams is that he's never been afraid to make a big move. If he thinks a trade can help his team win, he goes for it, without worrying about whether or not he gave up too much to get whatever he felt his team needed.
That's why I wasn't shocked when reports said Williams and the Sox had agreed to send the San Diego Padres four prospects (including the team's top pitching prospects) for one Jake Peavy. All that was needed to make the deal official was for Peavy to sign off on it and waive the full no-trade clause in his contract. It was a risky move for Williams, not only because he was giving up multiple prospects, but because he was also bringing back a big salary. Peavy is owed around $60M through the 2012 season.
But, by the time Sox fans were leaving their offices to head home, the dream of landing Peavy (dreamy especially since Bartolo Colon was lit up in a 20-1 Sox loss to Minnesota) was over. Peavy had officially blocked the trade by refusing to waive that no trade clause. His reasoning? That his family thought it was best for him to stay in San Diego for now.
I don't doubt that Peavy's family loves San Diego. Have you ever been there? It's absolutely gorgeous. I'll take 75 degrees and sunny every day, thank you very much. But it's also not the real reason that Peavy said no to the move (had the trade been to the Cubs he probably would have accepted).
There is some thought around baseball that Peavy would prefer to stay in the National League, and that may be true. But, somehow I don't think it was the real reason Peavy decided to stay in San Diego.
I think the real reason is that he doesn't think the White Sox give him the best chance to win.
The Sox made the attempt to land Peavy because they thought he might be able to turn around what has been a sluggish start to the season. Chicago is 17-23, and in fourth place in the AL Central. They are six and a half games behind front running Detroit. They thought Peavy would be the key to the turnaround.
Some in Chicago wanted to compare the move that was almost made to the trade Milwaukee made a year ago for CC Sabathia. But there is a difference. The Brewers were coming off a red hot month of June when they made the deal for Sabathia. They were contenders. The Sox aren't - at least not yet.
They could turn into contenders, but a lot of things have to change.
Peavy's not stupid. I'm sure he looked at what the Sox had before he said no (and if they were a contender he would have said yes). The rotation has Mark Buehrle and John Danks, who are pitching well, but after that - well it's a little rough. Gavin Floyd hasn't built on his big year from 2008. Jose Contreras is now in the bullpen. Bartolo Colon hasn't been good and looks like he might be all done.
Then there is the lineup. Paul Konerko is the only regular batting over .300. Jermaine Dye leads the club with 10 HR's. After that you have problems. Jim Thome is hitting .255 and looks every bit the 38 year old he is. Carlos Quentin was an MVP candidate last year, but is batting just .233 this year. Josh Fields is making no one forget Joe Crede (who hit a homer in yesterday's blowout). And Alexei Ramirez isn't hitting nearly as well as he did a year ago.
But these players could all turn it around and have productive years. Which leads to the another reason why I think Peavy said no to the White Sox.
Ozzie Guillen.
Ozzie (no one in Chicago calls him by his last name) isn't for everybody. Even he says that. And, from what I know about Peavy, I don't think he and Guillen would be a fit. Peavy's a no nonsense baseball guy. Ozzie's a baseball guy too, but he also doesn't mind the occasional controversy.
And, in the years Ozzie's been in Chicago, there have been plenty of controversies. Last year there was the blow up doll fiasco in the clubhouse. The year before Guillen went on a radio program and dropped F-Bomb after F-Bomb - knowing he shouldn't. In 2006, Ozzie got into some hot water for calling former Chicago Sun Times Columnist Jay Mariotti (an Ozzie critic) a derogatory name.
There are other controversies that I haven't mentioned (for instance, challenging his front office to make moves and punishing a pitcher for not throwing at a batter). Ozzie likes being the center of attention. Most managers that I've encountered don't. And, Guillen knows the fans love him because he helped bring them a world championship in 2005. He thinks he is bullet proof. Let me say this. Had they not won the World Series four years ago, Ozzie would have been fired a long time ago.
Ozzie's a pretty good baseball guy, and if he kept his nose clean he might even be considered one of the better managers in the big leagues. But it's not Ozzie. He wants to be the guy you talk about. He gets the attention - for sure, but not the respect. His opposite number in Chicago - Lou Piniella - gets the kind of attention and respect that Ozzie really craves. That's because for years all Piniella has done is manage his team and win. Have there been controversies with Lou? Sure, but nothing like what we've seen with Guillen.
So Peavy can talk all he wants to about San Diego being the right spot for him and his family. The analysts on ESPN can say it's about staying in the National League.
But the real reason Jake Peavy is not a member of the White Sox today is that he looked at their organization and saw flaws.
Lots of them.
That's why I wasn't shocked when reports said Williams and the Sox had agreed to send the San Diego Padres four prospects (including the team's top pitching prospects) for one Jake Peavy. All that was needed to make the deal official was for Peavy to sign off on it and waive the full no-trade clause in his contract. It was a risky move for Williams, not only because he was giving up multiple prospects, but because he was also bringing back a big salary. Peavy is owed around $60M through the 2012 season.
But, by the time Sox fans were leaving their offices to head home, the dream of landing Peavy (dreamy especially since Bartolo Colon was lit up in a 20-1 Sox loss to Minnesota) was over. Peavy had officially blocked the trade by refusing to waive that no trade clause. His reasoning? That his family thought it was best for him to stay in San Diego for now.
I don't doubt that Peavy's family loves San Diego. Have you ever been there? It's absolutely gorgeous. I'll take 75 degrees and sunny every day, thank you very much. But it's also not the real reason that Peavy said no to the move (had the trade been to the Cubs he probably would have accepted).
There is some thought around baseball that Peavy would prefer to stay in the National League, and that may be true. But, somehow I don't think it was the real reason Peavy decided to stay in San Diego.
I think the real reason is that he doesn't think the White Sox give him the best chance to win.
The Sox made the attempt to land Peavy because they thought he might be able to turn around what has been a sluggish start to the season. Chicago is 17-23, and in fourth place in the AL Central. They are six and a half games behind front running Detroit. They thought Peavy would be the key to the turnaround.
Some in Chicago wanted to compare the move that was almost made to the trade Milwaukee made a year ago for CC Sabathia. But there is a difference. The Brewers were coming off a red hot month of June when they made the deal for Sabathia. They were contenders. The Sox aren't - at least not yet.
They could turn into contenders, but a lot of things have to change.
Peavy's not stupid. I'm sure he looked at what the Sox had before he said no (and if they were a contender he would have said yes). The rotation has Mark Buehrle and John Danks, who are pitching well, but after that - well it's a little rough. Gavin Floyd hasn't built on his big year from 2008. Jose Contreras is now in the bullpen. Bartolo Colon hasn't been good and looks like he might be all done.
Then there is the lineup. Paul Konerko is the only regular batting over .300. Jermaine Dye leads the club with 10 HR's. After that you have problems. Jim Thome is hitting .255 and looks every bit the 38 year old he is. Carlos Quentin was an MVP candidate last year, but is batting just .233 this year. Josh Fields is making no one forget Joe Crede (who hit a homer in yesterday's blowout). And Alexei Ramirez isn't hitting nearly as well as he did a year ago.
But these players could all turn it around and have productive years. Which leads to the another reason why I think Peavy said no to the White Sox.
Ozzie Guillen.
Ozzie (no one in Chicago calls him by his last name) isn't for everybody. Even he says that. And, from what I know about Peavy, I don't think he and Guillen would be a fit. Peavy's a no nonsense baseball guy. Ozzie's a baseball guy too, but he also doesn't mind the occasional controversy.
And, in the years Ozzie's been in Chicago, there have been plenty of controversies. Last year there was the blow up doll fiasco in the clubhouse. The year before Guillen went on a radio program and dropped F-Bomb after F-Bomb - knowing he shouldn't. In 2006, Ozzie got into some hot water for calling former Chicago Sun Times Columnist Jay Mariotti (an Ozzie critic) a derogatory name.
There are other controversies that I haven't mentioned (for instance, challenging his front office to make moves and punishing a pitcher for not throwing at a batter). Ozzie likes being the center of attention. Most managers that I've encountered don't. And, Guillen knows the fans love him because he helped bring them a world championship in 2005. He thinks he is bullet proof. Let me say this. Had they not won the World Series four years ago, Ozzie would have been fired a long time ago.
Ozzie's a pretty good baseball guy, and if he kept his nose clean he might even be considered one of the better managers in the big leagues. But it's not Ozzie. He wants to be the guy you talk about. He gets the attention - for sure, but not the respect. His opposite number in Chicago - Lou Piniella - gets the kind of attention and respect that Ozzie really craves. That's because for years all Piniella has done is manage his team and win. Have there been controversies with Lou? Sure, but nothing like what we've seen with Guillen.
So Peavy can talk all he wants to about San Diego being the right spot for him and his family. The analysts on ESPN can say it's about staying in the National League.
But the real reason Jake Peavy is not a member of the White Sox today is that he looked at their organization and saw flaws.
Lots of them.
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