The White Sox have signaled to Jake Peavy that they’re unlikely to exercise their $22MM club option for 2013, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Instead, the team is expected to pay a $4MM buyout in a move that would make Peavy a free agent.
The White Sox might try to re-sign Peavy after declining the option, but it seems likely he’ll reach the free agent market. Peavy enjoys playing for the White Sox and would like to return, agent Barry Axelrod told Heyman. The right-hander prefers manager Robin Ventura to former manager Ozzie Guillen and appears to have favorable feelings about the White Sox, Heyman reports.
Peavy could be the second best free agent starting pitcher behind Zack Greinke this offseason (FanGraphs' version of wins above replacement suggests as much). Peavy, 31, has a 3.26 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and a 36.8% ground ball rate in 198 2/3 innings this year. The shoulder problems that limited him to approximately 100 innings per season from 2009-11 no longer appear to be holding him back.
The White Sox could raise payroll for 2013, especially if they make the playoffs. However, they aren’t currently discussing new contracts with prospective free agents A.J. Pierzynski, Brett Myers, Francisco Liriano and Kevin Youkilis, Heyman reports.
Not a surprise he isn’t worth 22 million…I’m sure they will try to resign him at a more club friendly price tag
Heyman also shouldn’t be surprised that that aren’t talking with any of the free agents yet they typically don’t do contract talk during the season
but they risk losing him, and he’s been a big part of their success this year..
They should try to extend him, say listen, i’ll give you 22 for next year, if you agree to a 20/2 extension.
thats 42/3 which might be around what he gets on the open market but atleast they don’t risk losing him
I wouldn’t have a problem with that…. However he hasn’t really pitched well in big games…his ERA against the Tigers was nearly 6
I sort of have mixed feeling on how much they should commit to Peavy
sample size
Big games have always been a black mark on Peavy’s record. He was horrible in the post season for the Padres. Having said that, he was more of a thrower looking for strike outs back then, where as he seems to be more of a pitcher now. He still misses bats at a decent clip, but he appears content to let the strike outs come as they may in favor of managing pitch counts more effectively.
Completely agree….He changes eye-level now since he doesn’t have the big fastball anymore so he has learned to pitch as you stated
The White Sox must ask themselves if he’s worth $18MM for one year ($4MM buyout on the option). This is precisely the reason that agents work buyouts into a players contract once an option year is presented–the team gets flexibility by having the option year and the player gets the benefit of the buyout if the option is declined or (if the option is exercised) perhaps making a significantly higher salary then he would otherwise in the option year.
The incremental difference of $18M seems reasonable for a pitcher who will be 32 next year and seems to have rebounded well from injury posting a WAR of 5. Maybe a tad over what the true “worth” of a +5 pitcher is, but you also have to consider they wouldn’t have risk in future years like signing him to a multi year deal.
On the FA market, I would guess he could get a 3 year deal. Even with an AAV of $13-15M, I’m not sure I’d want to commit to Peavy in his mid-30s if I was the White Sox (that is, if they intend on signing him after declining option).
can they decline the option but extend him a qualifying offer to net a draft pick if he signs somewhere else?
Yes, they can decline the option, pay the $4MM buyout on the option, and then extend a qualifying offer.
it surprises that the white sox are thinking about declining jake peavy’s option for 2013. i think i would try to resign all of the players mentioned in the artile except for brett myers. 22 million for jake peavy doesn’t sound all that bad. unless something really goes bad bring jake peavy back for 2013
It will be interesting to see how all this plays out
I expect them to decline FLoyd’s option as well
Floyd is a low option. They will certainly pick it up.
Prior to the season, I anticipated this to be a fairly tough decision if Peavy had a good (healthy) season as a starting pitcher. The net difference, with the buyout in mind, is $18MM for one year. Think of it like you were trying to add a starter of Peavy’s caliber in free agency–could you sign him to a one year $18MM deal? Doubtful. Your only chance would be if the market didn’t develop the way that they (the player and his agent) had hoped coming into the off-season, consequently allowing them to sign a one year deal and hit free agency a year later.
Also worth noting is that this free agent class is pretty thin on top-tier pitching.
I would pick up his option and then trade him. Gary Sheffield style.
No brainer here. Peavy is good, but at this point is not worth 22M.
for anyone thinking reinsdorf would pick this option up, you obv do not know jerry reinsdorf. he isn’t thinking of ways to extend peavy right now, he is busy thinking of ways to not have to even pay that $4M buyout.
say it ain’t so Jake! Thought you wanted to return to where you came from in SD….say it ain’t so!