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Jake Peavy trade reaction roundup

Money talks for most reporters and pundits evaluating the three-way trade that brought back Avisail Garcia

By Jim Margalus
Brian Kersey

If you want opinions on the three-way trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Boston Red Sox and netted Avisail Garcia plus three low-level Red Sox prospects in return ... there are a few. You know, if mine isn't enough.

I've gone through them and sorted them by general order of enthusiasm. For the most part, those who noted the financial freedom involved all supported Rick Hahn's decision to varying degrees. For those looking at it only in terms of talent, they were less impressed.

Thumbs up

Hahn ended up passing his first huge test as far as these four guys were concerned, all noting in one way or another that he did what he needed to do -- unload useless money. Stark's was the most supportive, as he used responses from industry peers to support his point. While Stark said Hahn might've set his sights too highaccording to some teams, he ultimately got the job done:

"You know what? "I hope nobody calls them a 'loser' because at least Rick was active,' " one NL executive observed. "His organization is at a better place than it was 14 days ago. And that's what he's supposed to do at the deadline. The teams that should get smacked around are all the teams that should have sold and did nothing. In some cases, I thought it was inexcusable." [...]

Finally, remember that Hahn pulled this off for a team that never sold, or believed in selling, during the Kenny Williams era. "So I'm sure," one fellow exec said, "he had to do a lot of arm-twisting in that organization just to get them to sign off on what he did."

In a different kind of grading, Rob Rogacki at Bless You Boys gave Dave Dombrowski a C- for giving up Garcia and his potential. He's not saying that Garcia's inclusion made the trade worthless, but it does hurt to see him go.

After years of seeing Kenny Williams scrap and claw his way into making his team contenderish, the Chicago guys all commended Hahn for doing what his predecessor wouldn't. Rogers' column comes to that conclusion, but I don't understand why re-signing Peavy was a bad move. They certainly got more from trading him than they would've by letting him walk.

Ken Rosenthal also talked to other clubs about the White Sox's moves, and they're not gushing to the level of Stark's sources. But they noted that the Sox prioritized financial freedom over sweetening the return, which is a choice, and a scout wondered if they thought Peavy wasn't going to hold up. Rosenthal ultimately called the package of Garcia plus a few depth guys "a decent return."

Ben Lindbergh says the White Sox didn't get what they were looking for, but ...

It’s not a breathtaking package, but it’s what the White Sox deserved. For a pitcher who was on the DL as recently as two weeks ago and who’s pitched one full season in the last six, the Sox got salary relief and four prospects who make a barren system look better. Not bad.

Not so much

We've already talked about Jeff Sullivan's assessment of Garcia's plate discipline issues, but it's strictly talent, not money.

Likewise, Keith Law isn't a fan of Garcia, but notes that Garcia is a divisive player in evaluation circles, and if Garcia is able to become what the White Sox see in him, they'll have done well.

Steven Goldman did soften his stance when asked about the savings, but he's not convinced the tradeoff is worth it, especially since the free agent pool isn't what it used to be.

And Jonathan Bernhardt (via Southside Showdown's review) takes it the furthest by already writing off what the Sox have yet to do with the money:

The problem wasn’t everybody else’s talent packages, it was their finances. Take a look how much money has been reported as exchanging hands in the deal. That’s right: none. The White Sox were willing to eat a bad return on talent so ownership could save on payroll for the next 18 months. Every organization has its priorities, and the White Sox have shown time and time again that the farm system is not one of theirs. In fairness to the White Sox, my guess would be that instead of pocketing the savings from the Peavy contract, they will be used to sign another ineffectual platoon infielder or one-dimensional outfielder in the vain hope that the team can reload instead of rebuild, but eventually something’s got to give in Chicago. Priorities like this aren’t how winning teams are built.

Just the facts

Sickels and Eddy offer capsules for the four players the White Sox received for Peavy. Add it in with ...

... and that's a pretty good knowledge base from which to begin our own evaluations. Really, the only disagreement right now is whether Francellis Montas can start. It's not only a matter of stuff, but also arm action, which is described as maximum-effort.

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