Peavy to Chicago... Again

The Sox have acquired Jake Peavy from the Padres for 4 pitchers: Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, Aaron Poreda and Dexter Carter.

White Sox Side: The White Sox made the deal expecting Cy Young Peavy, but they are going to be getting 2009 Peavy. The righty has battled injuries this year and his stuff has regressed. This is a huge risk being taken by Kenny Williams (who likes to do things like that), acquiring a fly ball pitcher who pitched in a great park for him and moving him to a tougher league with a park that is FAR less forgiving. And, oh yea, he dealt one of his current starters, who is having a better year, for him.

Padres Side: 4 pitchers, a lot of upside.

Richard is the best of the bunch and immediately becomes the Padres best starting pitcher. The lefty has made me a believer and generates great velocity and has solid movement with his fastball and should be able to be a revelation in the NL.

Poreda is a guy I watched and was a little underwhelmed over. That being said, he needs to be sent to AAA and stretched back out so that he can compete for a rotation spot next season. High upside guy who at worst will be a back of the bullpen type lefty.

You would think those two would have been enough, but the Pads got 2 more pitchers.

Russell, 26, was the # 27 prospect in the Sox system prior to the season on the strength of his mid 90's fastball. I have always liked him, but he hasn't done too much at Charlotte this season, going 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 34 appearances with 51 strikeouts and 18 walks in 56 innings. I like him as a 1 inning guy, so hopefully the Padres add his power arm next to all of their sinkerballers in that pen.

Carter, 22, is the baby of the bunch. A 13th round pick in last season's draft after being a 12th round pick out of the same high school that produced Justin Upton, he has 2 plus pitches, a 92-93 mile per hour fastball and a hard curveball. Carter has also put up some eye popping numbers at Low-A Kannapolis, going 6-2, 3.13 in 19 starts, while compiling a massive 143 strikeouts against just 32 walks in 118 innings. Another good bet to reach the majors at least.

Overall: If this deal was for the Peavy of 2 years ago, I would have a tough time arguing against it. But, Kenny Williams has taken a huge risk without much of a reward in my opinion and gave up some of his better pitching prospects. Win, Padres.