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If you looked at Jake Peavy’s early season numbers you would think the year was 2007. Is it a sign that the old Jake Peavy is back or should we just chalk it up to an old-fashioned good start?
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It is indeed a good start, with Peavy having won both of his decision during his first three outings. He is sporting a pretty 2.75 ERA and a microscopic 0.81 WHIP. He had similar success in three starts with the White Sox in 2009, but the past two seasons have been disappointing for the former Cy Young winner. That said, despite winning just 14 games at a shade over a .500 clip the past two years and a combined 4.77 ERA, he has posted WHIPs of 1.23 and 1.26 respectively.
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Not only is Peavy getting the job done early, he’s moving them down. He has recorded 21 strikeouts in 19-2/3 innings of work. It’s not like he’s facing pushovers either. He has faced both Texas and Detroit thus far.
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Staying healthy will be a key for Peavy. He hasn’t logged more than 175 innings since 2007 or 115 since 2008. He has the goods if he’s healthy and even when he’s not at his sharpest he can still maintain a low WHIP. He’s easily a player worth looking into.
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Peavy is owned in about half of all fantasy leagues. A number that is bound to increase if he continues to get the job done. His next scheduled start is Monday against Oakland so there is a strong likelihood he rolls on.
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Also check out:

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• Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Picks

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Jake Peavy is set to make his 2011 debut on Wednesday against Anaheim. He was 7-6 last year for the White Sox with a 4.63 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts in 107 innings. He hasn’t thrown 200 innings since 2007, but he is worth a look in deeper leagues.
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Peavy started off slow last year, posting a 7.85 ERA in 28-2/3 April innings and a 5.09 ERA in 40-2/3 May innings. He settled down, posting a 1.75 in 36 June innings, before being lost for the season on July 6th.
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The Angels strikeout nearly as much as anyone if you are looking to start Peavy in his season debut. Just know that it is a risk.
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An injured player that returns can be like making a one-sided trade for your fantasy team. You can add a star player to your lineup while dropping your worst player. Sometimes the strategy pays off. Sometimes it blows up in your face. You have to take risks to win fantasy championships though. Here are some injured players that you can store in your “bank” in hopes that they will pay dividends down the road.
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Kendrys Morales, 1B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Morales is a little scary right now because he seems to be getting worse rather than better. You probably remember he broke his leg celebrating a walk off grand slam on May 29th last year. He has been experiencing soreness in toe. Mark Trumbo, who has been dealing with an injury (groin) of his own, will keep first base warm for Morales. Kendrys hit 34 home runs in 2009 and had eleven in 51 games before going down. Unfortunately you’re going to have to still take him fairly early (64 average draft position) because of his potential. Hopefully he won’t spend too much time in your D.L. slot.
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Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees
Granderson strained his oblique, which could cause him to miss the start of the season. While that is disappointing news to fantasy owners, it could give you better value than his ADP (73) before the injury. Granderson hit 17 home runs and carried a .861 OPS after the All-Star Break last year.
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Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
Utley is another guy that comes with a risk thanks to a knee injury that will likely keep him out on Opening Day. Anytime a knee is involved, it’s a pretty sticky situation. Best case scenario is it heals fast and it doesn’t hinder his production. The likely scenario is Utley playing through the injury, but his numbers will be affected. The worst case scenario is Utley being shut down. We don’t really know what is going to happen with him. That’s what makes drafting Utley so scary. His ADP is 18, but sinking fast.
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Grady Sizemore, OF, Cleveland Indians
Sizemore won’t play Opening Day as he recovers from a knee injury. When he returns, he will probably be limited initially. He isn’t a 30-30 threat this year, but he could post a 20 HR/20 SB season. His ADP is 99, which makes him a little bit of a risk. The payday could be great though.
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Carlos Beltran, OF, New York Mets
Beltran is shooting for Opening Day, but given his injury history I wouldn’t hold my breath. The main reason I like Beltran is his value. His ADP is 228 meaning you can get him around the 19th round of fantasy drafts. I don’t think he’ll ever post the numbers he did as recently as 2008, but he could be a solid power/speed combo.
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Brian Wilson, RP, San Francisco Giants
Like Granderson, Wilson is dealing with a strained oblique. It is an injury that can be aggravated, but it’s not alarming at this point. Wilson remains one of the game’s elite closers.
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Johan Santana, SP, New York Mets
It’s gambling time. Johan won’t like pitch until the All-Star Break, if he pitches at all in 2011. He’s an excellent second half pitcher, but will he be productive without having the first half to get warmed up?  With and ADP of 208 he is certainly worth the risk. If he is 75 percent of what he’s been after the break (65-23, 2.95 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) you could get a huge boost for the stretch run.
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Jake Peavy, SP, Chicago White Sox
Peavy’s return from lat reattachment surgery is dealing with rotator cuff tendinitis. It’s only expected to keep him out a few weeks of the season. He struggled a bit last year going 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA. I think he’ll be closer to the pitcher that went 9-6 with a 3.45 ERA with the White Sox in 2009.
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Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Cueto’s shoulder will sideline him for the start of the year. He’s still should have plenty of value for fantasy owners. His ERA and WHIP have gone down in each of the past two years. He’s worth considering towards the end of your draft.
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Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Value Picks
• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Closer Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Closer Rankings

Jake Peavy threw 20 brilliant innings for the White Sox last year going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, a .162 BAA, and 18 Ks. Obviously that’s not a pace he can keep in a full season with the White Sox, but he should still be one of the better #2 fantasy pitchers out there (click here for starting pitcher rankings).

Leaving PETCO Park and the National League isn’t ideal for Peavy, but he’ll adjust. Talented pitching generally holds up regardless of where you pitch. Take C.C. Sabathia for example. He had no problem delivering for the Yankees last year. Same with Cliff Lee in Philly.

Peavy is a 95-68 (.586) pitcher with a 3.26 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and a .231 BAA. His K/9 ratio is 9.02. While he’s been dominant at home, he hasn’t been terrible on the road.

Home: 740.3 IP, 47-31, 2.82 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .219 BAA, 792 K
Away: 622.3 IP, 48-37, 3.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .244 BAA, 574 K

His primary opponents (Twins, Tigers, Indians, Royals) aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts. Peavy may not put up the numbers of yesteryear, but he won’t be going as early in drafts, which should offset things. I’d be more than happy with him as a #2 fantasy pitcher.

Prediction: 15-8, 3.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 175 Ks

Past profiles:
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves: Yunel Escobar
Baltimore Orioles:  Adam Jones
Boston Red Sox:  Clay Buchholz
Chicago Cubs:  Geovany Soto

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

The deal that would send Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres to the Chicago White Sox could hit a snag because of Peavy’s unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause.  Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelord, informed ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Peavy prefers that National League.

Personally I wouldn’t blame Peavy for vetoing the deal.  If you’re going to be traded, wouldn’t you want to go to a contender.  Not that he couldn’t make the White Sox a contender, but a move to Atlanta, the Angels, Mets, or Cardinals would be more attractive options.  What I would really like, taking off my Red Sox hat for a minute, if he were to go to Toronto.  I’d like to see them go for it much like Milwaukee did last year acquiring C.C. Sabathia.

***UPDATE***
Peavy vetoes trade.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

ESPN is reporting that San Diego has agreed to send Jake Peavy to Chicago.  No, not the Cubs, who were in negotiations during the offseason, but the White Sox.  Peavy has a no-trade clause in his contract, which he would have to waive in order for the deal to get done.  No word on what the White Sox would part with.

The former Cy Young winner is 3-5 on the year with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.  He’s second in the NL behind Javier Vazquez with 69 Strikeouts.  He started off a little slow, perhaps because of the World Baseball Classic, but has a 1.80 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in four May starts. 

The White Sox are actually a half-game worse than the Padres at 17-22, but are only 5.5 games behind division-leading Detroit.  Meanwhile, San Diego trails the Dodgers by 10 games. 

Peavy is scheduled to face the Cubs, ironically, on Friday in Carlos Zambrano’s return for the 15-day DL.