MLB Trade Rumors: Oakland A's Must Land Jake Peavy for Playoff Push

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane must pull the trigger on a trade for Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy to keep his team rolling through the second half of the season and into the playoffs. 

The Athletics are one of a few teams interested in potentially landing the veteran pitcher, as noted by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, who also considers the team a "dark-horse player" to land him:

Perhaps the biggest sticking point for Beane right now is Peavy's contract. He's in his first year of a three-year deal worth $14.5 million in 2014 and $15 million in 2015 (via Spotrac.com), which is a pretty penny for the always-frugal small-market A's.

One of the biggest frustrations for A's fans throughout the years has been the franchise's unwillingness to pay big money for star players, which is why Oakland has been a sort of farm system for the rest of the league. 

While Peavy isn't a superstar, he is a rock-solid player who would add experience, leadership and production to the team's pitching staff. With a record of 8-4 and an ERA of 4.28 (pitching in a hitter's park), Peavy would bolster the starting rotation. 

In his column, Heyman notes Beane's affinity for acquiring a "very good starting pitcher over a mediocre bat." Peavy is such a pitcher, and he'd likely replace Brett Anderson, who would move to the bullpen, in the starting rotation.

To this point in the season, Oakland hasn't struggled to put up runs, ranking No. 9 in the league in runs scored. The team's pitching staff also ranks in the top 10 in both ERA and shutouts, but another stalwart in the starting rotation would only further strengthen the A's.

There's another reason Beane should make the move to trade for Peavy, too. 

Current starter Bartolo Colon is one of the players under investigation for PED use in connection with Biogenesis, as noted by NBC Bay Area:

While a suspension may not be imminent, as noted by Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Beane may be hedging his bet by pursuing Peavy. If so, it would be a smart move for the future of the franchise. 

Colon has been fantastic for Oakland once again this year, and if he is suspended, then the team will need someone else to step up and take his spot. 

Whether it's for insurance, for the playoff push or perhaps a bit of both, the Oakland A's would be smart to pick up Peavy in a trade with the White Sox before he's shipped off to Boston or another team vying for a championship this year. 

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