MLB Trade Rumors: Is Jake Peavy Tradeable for Chicago White Sox?

Jake Peavy is off to a very nice start for the Chicago White Sox this season. He's had great control and nice strikeout stuff. As he showed in his three-hitter against the Oakland Athletics, Peavy can keep runs off the board. This may have people wondering if the White Sox starter has any trade value.

According to the Boston Globe, teams may try to deal for Peavy this summer due to his good start to the season. Teams are impressed that he's picked up his velocity to 92 to 93 mph and that he's been effective.

Kenny Williams would surely entertain offers for Peavy, who becomes a free agent after this season. Indeed, Peavy makes $17 million this year and the White Sox may have to swallow some of his remaining contract.

Still, Williams would surely be glad to unload $2 or $3 million from the White Sox payroll if he can.

Peavy has done tremendously well in his first four starts. He's put up a 3-0 record thus far with a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings, striking out 26 batters while walking just four. His 8.2 K/9 rate is significantly better than the last two years (7.8 K/9 in 2010 and 7.7 in 2011).

His low ERA is refreshing when considering that he had ERAs of 4.63 and 4.92 in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

He showed great poise in his shutout of the A's. Against the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers, Peavy showed his old strikeout ability, mowing down eight batters in both outings.

Still, fans must remember that Peavy had one good month in each of his two full seasons with the White Sox.

A good April might not portend a good, healthy season.

This is the same Peavy who hasn't started 20 games since 2008 because of arm problems. He pitched 107 innings in 2010 and 111.2 in 2011.

White Sox fans are guarded enough in their optimism to know that they might not get a full season, or a strong one at that, after a promising April.

If Peavy can keep it up for a full season, that would be great for the White Sox. They could turn make a nice trade for a prospect. Such a trade would be better than dealing John Danks or Gavin Floyd, both of whom could give the White Sox a few good years.

Unlike Peavy, they're young, healthy and can be counted upon to pitch 180 innings.

White Sox fans will be watching Peavy closely as the season progresses, as will numerous MLB scouts as teams determine whether he's worth a trade. If he holds up and pitches well, the market for him will hold up.