White Sox trade rumors: Jake Peavy deal looking less likely?

After a week of speculation that the Chicago White Sox are working hard towards a deal involving Jake Peavy before the trade deadline, things seem to have cooled off a bit. A White Sox source confirms that he expects Peavy to stay with the White Sox past Wednesday's deadline, and notes that the team thinks highly of the right-hander due to factors beyond his on-the-field performance.

#WhiteSox source says that they are "perfectly content keeping Peavy", and that he believes Peavy will be not be dealt.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 29, 2013

#WhiteSox source on Peavy: "His value in the clubhouse is as much as on the mound. We're perfectly content keeping him."

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 30, 2013

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, Chicago is telling other teams that they are going to keep Peavy and build around him. This would indicate that they are not getting the kind of offers that they were originally looking for by putting the right-hander on the trade market.

While the team's comments may just be a posturing effort to receive better offers from interested teams, there could be truth in their statements. White Sox sources have indicated all along that they view Peavy as an extremely valuable piece in their clubhouse, and that he would be valuable as a veteran leader as the team rebuilds.

The Athletics, who many viewed as the favorite to acquire Peavy, are no longer interested in acquiring him, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Oakland is now exploring other upgrades in the bullpen and middle infield, and can re-allocate their trade chips in those pursuits.

The Red Sox, who a source described over the weekend to be "just kicking the tires" on Peavy, were still very much involved as of this morning, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. Other reports indicate that the Sox are looking harder at Phillies' ace Cliff Lee, whose chances of being traded have increased dramatically over the last two days.

The Cardinals and Orioles have also been involved in talks for Peavy, but reports indicate that they are focusing elsewhere as well. At this point, a Peavy trade seems much less likely than it did over the weekend, but the weak starting pitching market might change that in a heartbeat. With so many contending teams looking for one last piece to increase their playoff chances, expect offers to rise as 4 PM on Wednesday approaches.

Just in case Peavy is dealt before his start on Tuesday, the White Sox have pitcher Adrian Rienzo in Cleveland as a contingency plan, according to Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com.

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