East coast fans that went to bed early woke up this morning with the news that Jake Peavy was dealt to the Red Sox. A 3-team deal, each had different motives in the trade and all 3 should be pleased with the results. Although, as chronicled here, trade deadline deals are certainly buyer beware.
The Red Sox acquired Peavy, who has a $15 million dollar player option next season, along with reliever Brayan Villarral from Detroit. Peavy will help fill the Clay Buchholz void as the Red Sox deemed Peavy healthy and worth the investment. The 32 year old Peavy is still effective, but no where near his 2007 Cy Young form. He made the All Star team last year, but has limped to a 4.28 ERA in 2013 and is #3 or #4 starter at this point, although his experience is valuable in the Boston rotation.
Villarreal had a very good 2012 season as well, posting a 2.63 ERA in 50 games, but has been sidelined with an injury for most of 2013. His loss was part of the overall issues with the Tigers bullpen, but when he returns can be a key guy in the Boston pen.
Detroit's need to get in this trade was to get shortstop Jose Iglesias from the Red Sox. It appears regular shortstop Jhonny Peralta will receive a heavy suspension for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and Iglesias will help fill that role. A .330 hitter this year in 215 at bats, Iglesias got off to a tremendous start for Boston playing a utility role. He's slumped back down a bit since, but as a career .257 minor league hitter, he's an asset more for his defense. The slick fielder was expendable because of the organizational depth at shortstop that Boston possesses. Xander Bogaerts is one of the games top prospects at short, and Will Middlebrooks will come back up to fill the Iglesias role.
The White Sox are in rebuilding mode and moved Peavy and Villareal to acquire some young talent. Their prize is a big right handed outfield bat in Avisail Garcia. Garcia hit .380/.460/.561 in 39 minor league games this season before Detroit called him up. Baseball America listed Garcia as the Tigers best minor league power hitter headed into 2013. At 6'4, 240 pounds, Garcia is a corner outfielder who has 2 home runs for Detroit in 2013 playing at age 22.
The White Sox also added 2 young pitchers from Boston in the deal. Francelis Montas is a 20 year old righty with 96 strikeouts in 85 innings in A ball. He features an upper 90's fastball and with improved command could turn into a big time prospect. JB Wendelken, out of South Effingham High and Middle Georgia College, is a reliever with a 2.77 ERA in 27 games this year in A ball.
The final piece Chicago received was Cleulius Rondon, an infield prospect hitting .276 in short season A ball.
Overall, this trade will be judged by Red Sox fans on how Peavy performs this year and next, but his first 7-8 starts will go a long way in determining how this trade panned out in the short term for Boston.
Detroit will love Iglesias's glove, just don't expect a .330 hitter or someone that will hit anywhere close to Peralta's level. But giving up Garcia was a fair price for the talent they are receiving.
As for Chicago, they project Garcia as a big time power hitting outfielder that will be a cornerstone of their current rebuilding situation. Montas could also turn out to be a big time contributor as well.
No way to determine the winner at this point, but the marquee name in Peavy was acquired by dealing a major league level player from a position of strength and 3 lower-level prospects. Pretty good deal for Boston considering Peavy's contract and injury situation as there are not a lot of starting pitchers available this trade deadline. No way they would give up a guy like Bogaerts for Peavy, so getting a veteran of his caliber for the pennant race seems like a necessary move.
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