By Soxman
What do you get when you combine Jake Peavy and Alexei Ramirez? Answer: two of four healthy ankles.
Just minutes after the 4:00 p.m. Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline passed, the MLB network announced that Jake Peavy was headed to the Chicago White Sox…again, and this time its for real.
With the move, Kenny Williams once again proved the following:
1. He always gets his man.
2. He is not afraid to do whatever it takes to win now…and later.
For the most part, this trade involves the same names as version 1.0 did earlier in the season.
The difference? Peavy is currently on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his ankle and won’t return until mid-August at the earliest. Not more than two weeks ago, Padres’ GM Kevin Towers noted that Jake Peavy could be done for the remainder of the season, saying, “I think it’s 50-50 if Jake will pitch again this year.”
However, Kenny Williams told the MLB network minutes ago that he believes Peavy will begin a rehab assignment towards the middle of August and could return towards the end of the month possibly on-time for the Red Sox series.
The Padres did pretty well in this deal as they will receive Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, Dexter Carter and Aaron Poreda in return. 
Richard should immediately move into the Padre’s rotation. While he is 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA, and a 1.47 WHIP on the season, he had a 1.12 ERA over his last two starts, helping the Sox get a crucial win over the Tigers on Sunday.
The key prospect in the trade for the Padres is likely southpaw Aaron Poreda. In a limited bullpen stint with the White Sox, the 2007 first-round draft pick had a 2.45 ERA in ten IP.
For the White Sox, the move could be to win now, providing Peavy could return towards the end of August. It could also be to solidify the Sox rotation for years to come. Peavy is under contract for at least three more years, with a club option for 2012. In the economics of pitching, it could also be a long term bargain. He’s due $15 million next year, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012 with a $4 million buyout on a $22 million club option.
Mark Buehrle is signed through 2011,and John Danks and Gavin Floyd are under the Sox control for at least three more seasons.
Even if he doesn’t throw another pitch in 2009, the White Sox get a proven 28-year old ace and Cy Young award winner (2007), who has a career ERA of 3.29. His ERA is likely to suffer somewhat moving to U.S. Cellular Field, but he should still pitch like a front of the rotation ace.
So why did Jake Peavy have a change of heart after turning down a trade in May?
“There’s no assurance that one of his (Peavy’s) prime target teams was going to take a shot at him in the offseason,” Barry Axelrod, Peavy’s agent said in an interview with Padres insider Tim Krasovic.
Peavy’s preferred teams were the Cubs and Dodgers.
In late May, he decided against accepting a trade to the White Sox.
Citing other factors, Axelrod told Krasovic that the White Sox (52-51 and 2.5 games behind the Tigers) are in better playoff contention than when Peavy nixed the deal in late May.
Should anyone be surprised?
Williams was somewhat forced to respond after the Detroit Tigers acquired Jarrod Washburn from the Mariners, and the Minnesota Twins solved their middle infield situation acquiring shortstop Orlando Cabrera.
He has admitted to coveting Peavy since July of last year, and has a proven track record of never giving up on his targets. After almost acquiring Ken Griffey Jr. at the 2005 trade deadline, Williams finally got him in 2008.
In 2005 he almost traded Joe Crede to the Angels for Darin Erstad. He later signed him as a free-agent before the start of the 2007 season.
While it somewhat edges away from Williams vow to develop his farm system, it is a good trade for both teams.
Providing the White Sox can stay in contention until Peavy returns healthy, he could easily add 2-3 wins down the stretch. Did you hear that offense? Now wake up…AGAIN.