The Yakker

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ESPN is reporting that Padres ace Jake Peavy will be the newest member of the Chicago White Sox, assuming he decides to waive his no-trade clause. The report indicates that the Padres will receive four players including pitchers Clayton Richard and top pitching prospect Aaron Poreda, but highly anticipated shortstop prospect Gordon Beckham is NOT included in the package.

“Jake called me [Wednesday] afternoon to ask about what it’s like here in Chicago,” former teammate Scott Linebrink told ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine. “I think he’s ready to move on, but I can’t tell you for sure he’s going to accept the deal. Losing 100 games, like they did last year, wears on a player. Right now, I’d say it’s 50-50 as to whether he accepts it or not. He’ll get with his family today and make a decision.”

The Padres are approximately $5 million over the budget set by team owner John Moores, and this deal would obviously help solve that issue since Peavy is due $11 million this season.

The 2007 National League Cy Young winner won the pitching triple crown that year (Wins, Strikeouts, ERA) and has been one of the better pitchers in the NL for much of his eight plus major league seasons. This is partly why he’s always expressed a desire to stay in the same league rather than jump to the American League, but despite there currently being three teams ahead of the Sox in the American League Central, they are only 5.5 games out of first place in a division that clearly seems like almost anyone’s for the taking (sorry Cleveland).

While the best part of this deal is obviously that Peavy won’t be forced to wear those god awful camouflage uniforms, the worst part is clearly the change in home locale.  US Cellular is much, much less forgiving and while he’s always been slightly more of a ground ball pitcher than a fly ball one, his HR/9IP has risen over the last couple seasons. Even if that is due to some elbow soreness he’s dealt with over the last two years.

The bottom line is that I see the best case scenario for Peavy owners being what they are currently getting with an occasional blow up thrown in to keep you honest. I’m really not a fan of the home ballpark and the fact he won’t get the easy free pass in the form of throwing to the opposing pitcher that he got in the NL. Fantasy owners should stay tuned.

EDITORS NOTE: Peavy has decided to exercise his no-trade clause and not join the Chicago White Sox. It seems like just a matter of time until he’s dealt to a team he will accept.

The Phils are phinally turning to Happ.

Whenever a major league team allows Chan Ho Park to waste away in one of their starting rotation spots, a variety of thoughts cross my mind. They aren’t limited to: (A) Mike Maroth wasn’t available, (B) Even Horacio Ramirez got a raise after a 2007 season that ranked among the 13 worst in the history of modern baseball, including a 1.85 WHIP, and (C) there has to be a young prospect with more potential than Park.

Luckily after much deliberation, the Phillies chose (C).

JA Happ has finally seemed to get his game back after an elbow injury dating back to 2007 served as a significant bump in the road. In 21.7 innings so far this season, Happ has gone 2-0 record with a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and is certainly a guy fantasy owners should be watching.

Reasons I’d be hesitant to plug him into your lineup immediately include a slight fly-ball tendency and lack of a true out pitch. It’s tough to imagine him being as worthless as Park, but his starting debut against the Yankees this weekend should go a long way towards determining how much long-term value he possesses.

Everything he touches turns to gold.

The fine folks over at Project Prospect did some excellent scouting analysis on soon to be first overall pick, San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg. If you remember Mark Prior’s rapid ascent to the majors after nine minor league starts, it’s easy to see Strasburg making a quicker run through the junior circuit–particularly since he’s likely to be throwing for the Washington Nationals, a team seemingly void of much quality starting pitching.

Don't meddle away with Jo-Jo when you've got Medlen

It’s a misprint right? They meant to call up uber prospect Tommy Hanson to fill Jo-Jo Reyes’ vacated rotation spot. There isn’t a spell checker out there that will auto correct Hanson with Medlen…as in lefty Kris Medlen.

Medlen edged out Hanson narrowly when the Braves needed to make a decision, with a 5-0 record, 0.96 ERA, 10.6 K/9IP, 4.4 K:BB ratio, and .152 BAA in 37.3 innings pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett. To be fair, Hanson was 1-3 with a 1.99 ERA, 12.6 K/9IP, 4.4 K:BB ratio, and a 1.86 BAA in 40.2 IP. At the time of the promotion, Medlen led the International League in ERA and wins (tied) and was sporting a 21-inning scoreless streak.

“This guy has been absolutely dominant,” Braves general manager Frank Wren told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Also we’re looking at a time window; that’s the other consideration. I think if we were looking at the long haul, and there was a situation for a starter to come up and be a starter for the rest of the season, it would probably be Tommy [Hanson].”

I understand the argument, but it’s at least somewhat flawed.

While Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, and Javier Vazquez have an ERA under 4.00 and WHIP better than 1.35 the lone remaining rotation member (Kenshin Kawakami) has been quite pedestrian to the tune of a 2-4 record, 5.79 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and very modest 1.7 K:BB ratio. If that’s not enough, Braves brass claims the Medlen call-up is merely to bridge the gap until 90-year old Tom Glavine can return from shoulder discomfort. The problem with that is Glavine has no timetable for his return and has conceded that if his shoulder issues don’t subside he won’t hesitate to retire. To me this means that Medlen has an opportunity to stick in the rotation if the results justify it.

“We’re bringing the guy that was throwing the best in AAA,” Wren said. Despite being just 5-10 (small for a starting pitcher) he has a polished, effortless delivery and his durability has never been in question. His success at Triple-A this season shows that his command is starting to improve to the level of his control and his aggressive approach on the mound only serves to make his 94-mph fastball, great curveball, and solid changeup and slider that much more effective. Fantasy owners in deeper mixed leagues with a roster spot wasting away should have Medlen on their radar as he prepares to face the Rockies on Tuesday. One solid start is enough to justify gambling on him.

Welcome to The Yakker! I’m the author and my name is Chris Bracke. I have 15 years of fantasy baseball experience and eight years of experience writing in the industry for well respected sites such as KFFL.com, Mock Draft Central, Roto Times and Fanball.com. I’m looking forward to providing the same insight my past work gave readers while remembering that everything I write will have a fantasy slant on it.