Jake Peavy left Fenway Park following Thursday’s game and boarded the team flight to Houston. For all of this week’s trade rumors, Peavy remained a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Peavy discussed his whirlwind week with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford after Thursday’s game. The right-hander again expressed his desire to remain in Boston while acknowledging he understands he still could be dealt before the July 31 trade deadline.
“I did feel like some of the (trade) talk was maybe premature and people were missing the mark a little bit with saying how imminent a deal could be,” Peavy told Bradford. “At the same time, stuff changes every 15 minutes. It’s really the reason I try to stay out of it because you will drive yourself crazy when you’re the player involved if you try to keep up with everything that’s said or every phone call your general manager has. I hoped with all my heart (I’d be traveling to Houston with the Red Sox).”
The Red Sox face a unique situation in that they’re trying to balance staying competitive this season with getting a better look at young players who figure to play an important role in Boston’s future. The result is someone like Peavy, whose contract is up after this season, becoming the subject of trade rumors, with speculation growing earlier this week that the St. Louis Cardinals could be interested in the pitcher’s services.
Peavy has been around Major League Baseball for a while, though. He’s also been traded twice. He recognizes the possibility of a third trade exists, but he also understands he must remain focused on the task at hand. Right now, that involves pitching for the Red Sox.
“It’s all I know how to do, is to stay wrapped up in what my job title — (what) my obligation at the moment is — and that’s to be here (with Boston). I made it very clear I want to stay here,” Peavy said. “That being said, I would never have any hard feelings. I want to do what’s best for the Boston Red Sox, and people way smarter than me (are) making those decisions on my future.”
The Red Sox, of course, acquired Peavy from the Chicago White Sox before last year’s trade deadline. Peavy immediately fell in love with the city of Boston and wants to stay put, but the 33-year-old insists his level of anxiety this season is much lower than it was at this point in 2013.
“That deal last year, coming here, came down to the wire. There were so many teams and you hang on every word,” Peavy said. “I hadn’t been through it in a while, so I was a little more anxious I would think last year than this year. I’m at peace with whatever happens.
“Being here, these guys, there’s nobody in this room that until we’re mathematically eliminated is going to give up hope on us winning the division,” Peavy added. “When you come to work and know that your team — your organization — is after that, it makes it a lot easier to come to work every day and grind it out. We’ll just see what happens. I’m so excited to be here. I want to be here — I’ll say that again — and (I’ll) just put my head down and be a pro and go to work until I’m told otherwise, and hopefully not.”
Peavy is scheduled to start Saturday against the Astros. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Friday there’s no contingency plan in place in case the pitcher is traded. It appears the rumors are just that for the time being.
