Right-hander Jake Peavy last pitched professionally in 2016, and though he was angling to return to the majors last summer, that attempt has come to an end. Recent reports from Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe and Scott Miller of Bleacher Report indicate the 37-year-old Peavy has decided to hang up his cleats.
Peavy spent his final two-plus seasons in San Francisco, but his peak came as the ace of NL West rival San Diego’s staff. In a move that ranks among the wisest in franchise history, the Padres used a 15th-round pick in 1999 on Peavy, who debuted in 2002. Just two years later, he emerged as one of the majors’ premier pitchers.
During a 1,050-inning run in San Diego from 2004-09, Peavy pitched to a 3.02 ERA/3.16 FIP with 9.44 K/9 against 2.74 BB/9 and helped the Padres to their two most recent playoff berths (2005-06). He also earned a pair of All-Star nods and twice led the National League in both ERA and strikeouts in that period, during which he accumulated the majors’ fifth-highest fWAR among starters (26.4). Only luminaries Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay outdid Peavy in that category.
In the crowning personal achievement of his career, Peavy beat out Oswalt and others for the NL Cy Young Award in 2007, when he fired 223 1/3 innings of 2.54 ERA/2.84 FIP ball, amassed 240 strikeouts and led all big league pitchers in fWAR (6.7). It was the third straight season of at least 200 innings for Peavy, who exceeded that mark twice more later in his career.
Peavy was unquestionably the Padres’ most valuable player during his seven-plus years in their uniform. However, his reign in San Diego came to an end in August 2009 when the non-contenders traded him to the White Sox for Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell.
Save for Richard, who had a long but unspectacular run in San Diego, no one from that group panned out for the Padres. Meanwhile, despite Peavy’s presence, the White Sox never secured a playoff berth during his stint with the franchise. It didn’t help that Peavy often battled injuries throughout his tenure as a member of the White Sox, with whom his numbers declined. Still, he did log a respectable 4.00 ERA/3.70 FIP in 537 2/3 frames with the Pale Hose and pick up his third and final All-Star appearance with the club in 2012.
In July 2013, a year after his last truly great season, Peavy changed Sox when Chicago dealt him to Boston in a three-team, seven-player trade that also included Detroit. Peavy wasn’t any kind of rotation savior by then, but he was still a solid starter whose acquisition paid dividends for the Red Sox during their run to a World Series championship that season. However, Boston couldn’t defend its title in 2014, a season in which it nosedived in the standings and ended up dealing Peavy to the Giants for pitchers Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree.
For the second straight season, Peavy was a midsummer acquisition for a franchise that went on to a championship. Peavy gave the 2014 Giants the vintage version of himself in terms of run prevention over 78 2/3 regular-season innings (2.17 ERA), and he helped the club to NLDS and NLCS victories. Although Peavy struggled in both of his World Series starts, a pair of losses to the Royals, the Giants nonetheless triumphed in a seven-game classic. They then brought back Peavy on a two-year, $24MM contract, which will go down as the last deal of his career. While Peavy pitched well in the first of those seasons, injuries held him to 110 2/3 innings. He was only able to manage another 118 2/3 frames in 2016, a career-worst campaign that included a demotion to the Giants’ bullpen.
Although Peavy’s time in the majors didn’t end on a high note, he enjoyed a prolific career that most pitchers would sign up for without a second thought. Along with his personal and team awards, Peavy registered a 152-126 record, 2,207 strikeouts and a 3.63 ERA/3.65 FIP in 2,377 innings en route to 44.1 fWAR/37.5 rWAR and upward of $127MM in earnings. MLBTR congratulates Peavy on an outstanding career and wishes him the best in his post-playing days.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Fun to watch when he was at the top of his game
man Peavy to the Braves trade rumors every years always got me hyped up. Shame it never happened. He was a great pitcher and competitor
I remember Jim Hendrys obsession with signing and trading for 2nd baseman. Brian Roberts was always a rumor to the Cubs. I remember at one point they had 6 2nd baseman in a game at the same time. At one point they all had played started their career at 2nd
wut.
Oh wait, that was That Ball Was Bryzzoed commenting.
Quietly put together a great career. Happy Retirement Jake!
Great career, but one has to wonder why it took him so long to hang em up.
When you were one of the best in the world at what you did, I imagine it’s hard to let it go.
Remember? He got ripped off for 16 million dollars. That’s a lot of money, even for rich guys.
Really, guy retires and you have to question why he waited. He expressed interest in coming back, worked hard in the off season to prepare and despite a couple attempts realized it wasn’t in the cards. A lot of pro athletes say they miss the competition and comraderie, which most have had since they were little kids. Guess you are able to walk away from anything you can’t do to a high level anymore… or maybe never were there.
……….The Crowds,the Camaraderie with your Teammates,The Adrenaline,it’s hard to Quit and Passion and yes the Money,especially after The Rip off Scheme he fell victim to,Good Luck Jake!
What happened that he got ripped off?
Because he didn’t want to or have to?
Jake was a big factor in the play off run here on energy alone. Hope he’s enjoying his duck boats and good luck.
I liked watching Peavy pitch. He’s a member of the Hall of Very Good.
Agreed, 5 elite seasons is close, but no cigar. He was fantastic when he was at his best though.
Those 07 pads were fun to watch with peavy leading the way
“en route to 44.1 fWAR/37.5 fWAR”
That should’ve said “37.5 rWAR,” which it now does. Thanks.
Modern version of an old west gunslinger and battler, super competitive.
Tremendous pitcher, so competitive and emotional. He will be solely missed…
In other breaking news Andy Benes retired.
Ty Cobb too.
Seems like this article should be like five years old lol
I know Jake is a man of great Faith. I hope your life after baseball life is so fulfilling. You were great to watch over the years. Respect from SF. God Bless.
He was always my favorite player when he was with the Padres. Just filthy stuff.
Always envisioned him donning a braves jersey for a couple years at the end.. Congrats on a great career and good look in your post career, you’re one of the last from my fav Era!
Hat tip’ to you Jake. Great competitor, Padre legend for life.
the wheels had clearly fallen off he knowingly stole 24 Million from the giants- savage
Loved watching him pitch. He was a hell of a competitor. Best of luck Jake
Seems like a good guy. Love the fact that Posey basically had to paint his fingers yellow in order for Peavy to be able to see his signs.
I can’t believe he’s only 37
Guy had a tremendous career. He played with a lot of heart and grit. His career accomplishments are HOF worthy, wearing a Padres Jersey.
Nothing better than watching a guy that was so intense that he argued with himself on the mound. Huge part of the world series run. Loved watching him pitch for the giants just as much as i hated watching him pitch against them.
Congrats on a GREAT career!!!!
Will never forget the 2008 offseason where Peavy was all but headed to Atlanta for the longest time.
Why are they posting 3 year old articles?
Muttenchops here,
Bark bark bark, ruff ruff ruff.
Didn’t like Peavy as a Giant. Road block to young pitcher development. Most of the time he started because he had pictures of Bochy and Sabean with a goat. Says he was ripped off for $16 million. The Giants got ripped off for $24 million. when he had nothing left. Plus the guy lacked personal hygiene. A burger shop could fry burgers and french fries with his hair.
I’m sorry it took him five years to realize 7.00 ERA doesn’t quite cut it in the majors.. Bow wow bow wow.
My apology…. My dog wrote that.
We get it. Youre into younger guys with 7.00 eras.
Big Glove
I get it. You have medical issues. Try Kegels.. Peavy was a complete waste of time as a Giant.
Saw him pitch to the tune of 16 strikeouts to the visiting Braves against a good Braves team. He was such an intense, fun, competitor. Everytime his spot was up to pitch as a Padres fan it was mist see TV. Loved the guy! You will be missed on the mound Jake!
I wonder if he still has the Duck Boat he bought after the 2013 WS victory parade in Boston.
Congratulations on your retirement Jake, you helped bring intensity to the Giants in 2014 and pitched us to the World Series. What an accomplished career, you were traded in back to back seasons and achieved back to back Commissioner”s trophies for the Red Sox and Giants.
A CY winner that I feared and admired against my team and enjoyed getting to know once you joined my GMen! I hope you finally finished that ballpark on that gorgeous property of yours and got that trolley car, to go with that duck boat, you talked about on GMag. I hope to see you at a Giants game one day and on the stage. Enjoy that family in retirement. ..still can’t believe that we are the same age lol.
Years ago, I was invited to a Mobile BayBears games by a corporate sponsor, sat in the sponsor’s box behind home plate. Sitting behind us was a player charting the opposing team’s pitches. Guess who? At the time I had never heard of Jake Peavy, but it wasn’t long before everyone knew his name.
Padre Great. Padre Hall of Famer. Successful Human Being. Christian.