5 MLB Teams That Will Pursue Jake Peavy in Free Agency over Zack Greinke

With just a couple weeks left in the 2012 regular season, a number of pending free agents are likely playing their last games with their current teams, as many players will certainly change locations during the offseason.

The Chicago White Sox will be just one of many teams that have plenty of decisions to make this offseason, and while players like Francisco Liriano and Kevin Youkilis are part of that crop, the team has cleared the air on perhaps their top free agent to be, as the team announced that they won't be picking up Jake Peavy's $22 million option for next season.

Entering the market won't make Peavy the top pitcher available, as Zack Greinke will most definitely be any team's top target, but he does have plenty to offer a team looking to spend this offseason, and will certainly still be in for a big pay day this winter.

Boston Red Sox

When the Boston Red Sox look back on their 2012 season, it will no doubt be hard to consider the year a success. They're currently sitting 16-games under the .500 mark and have seen a number of their best players head west in a blockbuster trade that was completed in August.

While that trade may have gutted the roster of superstars, it does open up the team's ability to spend this offseason as they look to get back into contention in the AL East.

Josh Beckett took his lumps in Boston at times, but was still a dominating force on the mound when he was on, so replacing him with a pitcher like Jake Peavy certainly wouldn't hurt.

Los Angeles Angels

With the Los Angeles Angels, it might be a stretch to say that the team will pursue Jake Peavy over Zack Greinke, but moreso that Peavy will be a top option for the Halos if Greinke ends up signing elsewhere.

Greinke has been solid throughout the 2012 season, posting a 14-5 record and sub-3.50 ERA between his time with the Angels and Brewers. He will certainly be the top free agent pitcher to hit the market when the season comes to a close.

Texas Rangers

With the Los Angeles Angels flexing their muscle (and checkbook) this past offseason, the Texas Rangers certainly felt compelled to respond in an effort to hold onto their grasp of the AL West.

Ryan Dempster and Roy Oswalt have bolstered the team's rotation on paper, but with Oswalt posting an ERA of 6.29 this season and Dempster seeing his ERA more than double from when he was in Chicago, they may not have quite had the intended impact.

Both of these pitchers will enter free agency this offseason and while there's a possibility that one could be back in the Lonestar state in 2013, the Rangers would fare better seeking a top arm like that of Jake Peavy.

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox may be declining the $22 million option on Jake Peavy's contract, but that doesn't necessarily mean he couldn't pitch for the team in 2013.

Peavy may represent the best starting pitching arm on the market after Zack Greinke, but at a few years older than Greinke and a more extensive injury history, Peavy won't command the same type of salary.

Chicago will have plenty of other decisions to make this offseason when it comes to free agents like Francisco Liriano and Kevin Youkilis, but as they look to keep up the pace they've set in 2012, considering a new contract for Peavy may not be a bad idea.

Los Angeles Dodgers

There isn't a person on earth that could have predicted just how active the Los Angeles Dodgers would be in the trade market, as Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and others are now all calling Los Angeles Home.

With Beckett, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang and Joe Blanton all in the starting rotation, the team may not seem to be in the market for a top flight starter.

Keeping in mind the team's willingness to open their wallet this summer, however, it's hard to believe they wouldn't do so again if it meant solidifying their already solid team even further.