For The Padres, It's Time To Move On Without Jake Peavy

Just over a month ago, the San Diego Padres tried to send their ace Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox for a list of young players that included a few high pitching prospects. 

Peavy took his time deciding on whether to take it. Part of that time was spent talking to former teammate Scott Linebrink, a current member of the White Sox.

Eventually, Peavy decided to stay in San Diego.

Since then, Peavy has pitched a game in which he had the flu and another game where he had a severely sprained ankle. That ankle injury eventually landed him on the disabled list, where he will remain until possibly early August.

With the Padres long out of the playoff race, the front office should be looking towards 2010 and they need to make some drastic changes to put this team back into contention.

The first decision this front office needs to make is about the future of their ace. They've already attempted to trade him three times since this past offseason, including to teams like the White Sox, Cubs, and possibly the Atlanta Braves.

Peavy made no qualms about wanting to go to the Cubs, but according to sources in Chicago, the Padres were asking too much in return and the deal fell apart.

Well now, the Padres need to trade him. I didn't say they had to, I didn't say that they should—I say it's time for them to make a deal.

The Padres can get top pitching prospects in return—pitching prospects that can make more of an impact than Peavy is making on this team in 2009.

I know that is not a popular opinion among other Padre fans, but I've seen enough of Peavy being this so called "warrior"—pitching with some sort of injury and giving his team no shot of winning the game that night.

It's only afterwards that fans and the team learned that he tried to pitch through an injury that rendered him incapable of pitching like the typical Jake Peavy.

That being said, this can't wait for the offseason. This move needs to be made prior to the trade deadline, and the Padres need to bring in prospects or get major league talent in return that will impact this team next season. 

This front office absolutely CANNOT make a deal for lower level prospects or players that won't be seen for several years. This team needs help and they need it immediately.

Can the Padres win with Jake Peavy? My honest answer—and a lot of fans may not like it, or may not agree with it—is: No, they can not. 

The Padres have won a few National League Western Divison Championships, but have subsequently been bounced out in the first round of the playoffs. That's no longer enough for this franchise.

Jake is just one player, that much I understand. And I know you can blame a lot on the Padres' offense. But Jake has been given his shot to be a leader and has not lived up to that mantra. He's had a shot to lead his team in the playoffs and has not gotten them out of said first round.

It's no longer enough for the San Diego Padres.

With Jeff Moorad going into his first offseason as the new owner and CEO of the Padres, it's on his shoulders to turn this team back into a contender.

There's no more room for "it's a long process," or "we're building for the future."  That's something that's been said time and time again. Fans are no longer believing that attitude or that saying. 

He has a tough offseason ahead of him and there are decisions that need to be made—decisions that I don't know if I could make. But, for the betterment of this team and this franchise, it's time to cut bait and end the days of Jake Peavy in a Padres uniform.

They can survive without him, I can promise you that. And if they get the right prospects and the right players in return, this team can be a lot more successful than they ever will be if they hang on to a player making $15 million for sitting on the disabled list.

Sorry Jake, but this team needs to move on and they need to do so without you.