BOSTON (AP) — Jake Peavy last appeared in the postseason in 2006.
He’s hoping that slump is about to end.
The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner arrived at Fenway Park on Thursday, about two days after he was traded by the last-place Chicago White Sox to the first-place Red Sox.
The 32-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Padres in the postseason in 2005 and ‘06, said he would do all he could to help the Red Sox make it back to the playoffs.
“The opportunity I’ve been given, I couldn’t ask for anything more than to come to a team in first place with a realistic chance, which is why we all play this game — to play in the postseason,” he told reporters before Boston’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. “I couldn’t be any more excited to be here, to call this home.”
The Red Sox acquired Peavy from Chicago the night before the trading deadline in a three-team deal that sent shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Detroit Tigers.
Peavy, who is 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts this season, is scheduled to make his first Red Sox start on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I expect to win on my day, and to be the best teammate I can be,” said Peavy, who acknowledged he is at a different point in his career than he was when he last pitched in the playoffs. “I think I can win. I still think I can be a pitcher who can go out every fifth day and give my team a chance to win.”
Peavy is 128-97 with a 3.49 ERA in his 12-year career, earning honors as the NL’s top pitcher in ‘07 when he was 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA.
But the Padres sent him to Chicago at the 2009 trade deadline, and with the White Sox out of the running this year he was shipped off for a package of minor leaguers.
Peavy said knowing he was on the market was stressful for his family, but the chance to get back to the playoffs makes it worth it.
“It’s a draining process,” he said. “At the same time, all you can do is ride it out.”
Peavy gives the Red Sox help in the starting rotation with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list (shoulder). Rookie Brandon Workman has filled in, but now could move to the bullpen to solidify the relievers.
Peavy is being reunited with Red Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves, who was a bullpen coach in Chicago.
Boston added Peavy to the 40-man roster on Thursday and recalled right-hander Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket. The club also optioned righty Jose De La Torre to Pawtucket. Workman was optioned to Pawtucket after Wednesday night’s game.