GIANTS LAND VETERAN STARTER PEAVY
The San Francisco Giants acquired pitcher Jake Peavy and cash from the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree.
What does it give the San Francisco Giants
The Giants are desperate after blowing a big lead in the National League West Division, and are now neck and neck with the hated Los Angeles Dodgers. Peavy will help replace the injured {P Matt Cain} (elbow), who might not be much of a factor the rest of the way. The 33-year-old Peavy should fit in well with the veteran-laden Giants, and he has already pitched in the NL West (for San Diego) under San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy--which bodes well for him.
What does it give the Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox appear to be sellers this year, so perhaps Peavy is only the start of a purge. Lefty starter Escobar should be the key to the trade from a Boston perspective. Just 22, Escobar has struggled this season at Triple-A Fresno but should enjoy escaping the Pacific Coast League. He has a lot of upside as a frontline starter but needs to bounce back from adversity. As for Hembree, he has experience as a late-inning reliever in the minors and good big-league potential.
Fantasy impact
Escobar would have been better off pitching in the National League at AT&T Park in San Francisco, rather than Fenway Park in Boston, so his long-term keeper value dips a little bit here. Peavy's short-term fantasy fortunes improve quite a bit here, while Hembree remains on the radar. The big winner here, however, will be the pitcher Boston calls up to replace Peavy in the rotation: likely one of {P Brandon Workman}, {P Allen Webster} or {P Anthony Ranaudo}.
