Why the Padres Should Trade Jake Peavy for Clayton Kershaw
Given the opportunity, would you swap Jake for Clayton, straight up?
I would.
Here is why I think this would be a win-win scenario for both clubs.
The Dodgers are built to win NOW. Their lineup is solid top to bottom, even without Manny Ramirez. Their biggest weakness is their pitching staff. Jake is a polished player who is at his peak right now, and will be there for another few years. The Dodgers could make great use of Peavy in that time period. He would immediately improve their starting rotation which, as mentioned, could definitely use the help.
The Padres, on the other hand, are a few years away from competing. They have talent in the system, but by the time those players are ready to contribute at the major league level, Jake will be past his prime, and will not be worth the price of his contract.
Kershaw is young and very talented, but is still raw and not yet producing at an elite level. He's not at the point where he can lead a pitching staff, and probably won't be there for a couple years. As mentioned earlier, the Dodgers are built to win right now, not in a few years. Sure he's a nice piece to have, but when you want to win a championship immediately, a finished product is worth more than one with potential. On the Padres' side, Kershaw would start to enter his peak right when the talent they have developing in the minors right now would start producing in the major leagues. Kershaw would also be exactly the piece the Padres don't have anywhere in the system--a dominating left-handed pitcher. He could be the head of an elite Padres pitching staff for years to come.
Financially, it makes sense as well. Jake's contract is an albatross around the neck of the organization. It looked doable when the payroll was expected to be $75-80 million dollars a year, but now that we're looking at the $40-50 million range for the next couple years, it's unsustainable. The Dodgers, however, are a big-market club with a big payroll. They could afford to take on Peavy's contract, at least for the next two or three years. By acquiring Kershaw, the Padres would immediately replace an expensive, talented player with one who is also talented, but much younger and much cheaper.
Lastly, LA makes sense for Jake because first and foremost, he wants to win a championship. Have I mentioned the Dodgers are built to win right now? They're set to run away with the NL West and possibly have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Jake pitchers pretty well in Dodger Stadium, and is very familiar with it. It also makes sense for Jake because he doesn't have to move his family. He can stay in southern California, and probably in the same house. His kids can stay in the same school. Lastly, he would get to stay in the National League, where he could keep hitting and keep getting to face the opposing pitcher every 9th batter. On Kershaw's part, I'm sure he would rather stay with the Dodgers and compete to win a championship right now, but thankfully he doesn't have a no-trade clause, so what he thinks doesn't matter nearly as much as what Jake thinks. Also, he shouldn't be too upset, because he'd get to pitch in PETCO, with everything it does to help pitchers.
In sum, I love Jake Peavy, and I would like nothing more than to keep him a Padre for his entire career. But it just doesn't make sense anymore, for the team or for Jake. I'd like to see him go somewhere he could help his career, and I'd like to see us get something in return for him that would really help us. That's why I'd be in favor of this trade.
What do you all think?
This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.
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The Dodgers would never go for this
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
Absolutely not...
but I’d accept it all else equal. TWSS.
Hmm...a financial panther?
by friarinchicago on Jun 4, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I voted yes but
I just don’t think that the Dodgers would want to make that trade. How often do you see a team trading its best player to a cross division rival. The Padres are in a pinch because Peavy wants to be traded to the national league and the west coast. And the only team competing this year in the west is the dodgers. If that trade would go through, Kershaw could be a really good player, especially in Petco.
Big Numbers
I voted yes
But I don’t think it should be a straigh-up trade, the Dodgers would have to give up more than just Kershaw.
But I support the trade, and I also love Peavy.
I see what you did there...
Two timing Gaslamp Ball and the SOSD Padres forum.
http://forum.signonsandiego.com/showthread.php?t=98581
My Padres Blog
When you want exposure
you take any forum you can get. ;-)
by Zach (maestro876) on Jun 5, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I never read the UT forums or comments
but I did just notice reference to the “Gonzali”. Seems like a lot of people take what they want from GLB, but what do they provide in return?
"Get on board early," Black said, alluding to, what he feels, is a crop of up-and-coming players.
"I would tell those fans that we're going to play good baseball. We're going to play hard. We're going to have exciting young players..." -Bud Black
I don't do the comments
just the forum. The people who comment on the articles are huge idiots.
I gave this wonderful missive to GLB! As well as many gameday comments in the OT. :-)
by Zach (maestro876) on Jun 5, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Sounds like a good deal
for the Dodgers.
"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG
by TheGrandHatching on Jun 5, 2009 8:01 AM PDT reply actions

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