FanHouse JakePeavy

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

So, quick apology on my part: the Power Rankings were supposed to go live Wednesday, but things happened, I'm a jerkstore, excuses, etc., and here we are. It's not Wednesday! So please note that the records reflect Wednesday -- not Thursday, not Friday, not Saturday. Don't freak out in the comments and call me names. Please. I can't take that in my fragile emotional state right now. I might turn into Raul Ibanez, at which point I would yell at you and then strain my groin. And that wouldn't be good for anyone.

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

As Joey Votto heads out to a rehab assignment, the Reds are anxiously awaiting the return of their best hitter. Votto hasn't started a game since May 27 -- when the Reds stood at 26-20. Since then, they've gone 8-11. As a team, the Reds are hitting .244 and rank 11th in the National League in runs scored. Votto is hitting .357 with eight home runs and 33 RBI in only 38 games. Translation: The Reds really, really need him. They aren't the only team in baseball that will be missing a star player in the upcoming weeks. After the jump, we'll list the Top 10 most important injuries in baseball moving forward in 2009.

Jake Peavy was in a nice little groove until he twisted his ankle while running the bases against the Cubs on May 22. Including that victory over Chicago, Peavy compiled a 1.50 ERA during a 5-start stretch, striking out 47 and walking only 10. Opponents were hitting only .144 off him during that stretch.

Though Peavy claims his ankle pain since then has been "managable," something was obviously different. Since it happened, he's had three starts. The results, other than somehow managing to go 2-1, were not pretty: a 6.28 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Apparently, the ankle was bothering Peavy more than he cared to let on, because he's being placed on the 15-day disabled list -- and will miss at least a month.

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Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

For the most of past two seasons, Aaron Rowand has been a thorn in the collective sides of his fantasy owners. In the middle of May, his batting average even dipped down to .214 (he also only had 2 homers at the time). Starting May 10, though, Rowand has been mashing. In that 21-game span, he's hitting .378 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI. He's also accrued 10 doubles and scored 18 runs in that time.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Remember 'Five Alive,' the juicy blend with five fruits that's fun for all the family? Well, Rick Porcello is a unique blend of rookie flavor who's reeled off five straight victories. You can hardly find that syrupy drink on the shelves anymore, but you can still find Porcello in about 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues. And that's not all there is to like about Porcello. After the jump, it's fun time for all fantasy owners! (sugar rush optional)

The White Sox experienced an awful Thursday. They were beaten 20-1, their most lopsided loss in history, by the Twins. Worse, their plans to acquire one of the best pitchers in baseball, Jake Peavy, were dashed. Things were so bad that I felt it appropriate to post a picture of a non-smiling Jim Thome. It took me a while to dig one up.

Friday's Dugout, specifically engineered to draw the ire of White Sox fans, is after the jump.

What now for Jake Peavy?

Maybe nothing.

Despite a personal appeal from White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, Peavy would not waive his no-trade clause for an agreed-upon deal between the Padres and White Sox that became public Thursday.

"Jake is taking a stance where he is a member of the Padres," agent Barry Axelrod told FanHouse.

"But for the frustration of not competing as a team, it's all positives [in San Diego]. It's going to take a very enticing situation for him to move. Frankly, the Chicago White Sox are not a very enticing situation.

"As of today, San Diego is the right place for him."

Jake Peavy has rejected the proposed trade that would have sent him from the Padres to the White Sox, a source close to the pitcher told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Padres came to Peavy on Wednesday night to ask if he would approve a trade to the White Sox, agent Barry Axelrod confirmed to FanHouse. Axelrod said that Peavy preferred to stay in the National League, although at this point it's unclear if that was the reason he rejected the deal.

Peavy has a no-trade clause in his contract.

Have you heard? The White Sox and Padres have agreed to a deal that would send Jake Peavy to Chicago for what is being reported as four players, two of which are believed to be Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda. The teams have agreed to the deal and now the only thing we need to sit around and wait for is Peavy's approval.

There was some doubt that Peavy will accept the deal because of possible apprehension about either playing for Ozzie Guillen, playing in the American League, or pitching in US Cellular Field. The San Diego Union Tribune's Tom Krasovic originally reported the deal, and now according to Krasovic, it's "unlikely' this trade is going to go through.

An official with one of the teams confirmed to FanHouse that the White Sox and Padres have agreed on a deal for star right-hander Jake Peavy, pending Peavy's approval (he has full no-trade rights).

Left-hander Aaron Poreda (Chicago's No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America) is in the deal, and lefty Clayton Richard is "likely" part of it, the official said. San Diego would also get one or two other players off a list – probably to be decided soon and not as players to be named.