If Jake Peavy waives his no-trade protection and agrees to join the Chicago White Sox and the other four teams in the division don’t in some way answer this bold move, the AL Central championship will remain in Chicago in 2009.

That’s not to say that this trade would make the White Sox a perfect team. They’re only 17-22 and in fourth place, so far, and are 5.5 games out of first place. And the infield combo of Chris Getz and Jayson Nix at second base, Alexei Ramirez at shortstop and Josh Fields at third to this point have been underwhelming offensively.

Carlos Quentin has, to this point, failed to follow up his tremendous 2008 season as well.

Nor is it to say it’s a done deal. SI.com is reporting that there is a deal in place but ESPN.com is reporting that he may have concerns about going to the American League or about playing for manager Ozzie Guillen.

And while Peavy is having an off year by his standards so far (3-5, ERA of 3.82), one could surmise that it might have something to do with the hopelessness of playing for a team trying to reduce its payroll below $40 million or the pressure of pitching for a team that obviously wanted to dump him in the offseason.

Should Peavy get himself into a pennant race, I have no doubt he’ll resemble the Peavy of 2007 who went 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA and a WHIP of just over 1.00.

He is a leader and former Cy Young Award winner and he’s clearly an ace pitcher and teamed with lefty Mark Buehrle, Peavy would give the White Sox the best one-two tandem in the division, if not the entire American League.

Now, the middle of the rotation has had some issues as well. John Danks and Gavin Floyd are both struggling and Bartolo Colon is anything but a given from start to start.

But if any one of those guys was to turn things around and step up for the last three-quarters of the season – hardly unlikely – they’ll have more than enough in the rotation to get to a deep bullpen that has been pitching well all season. Yep, stick Peavy into a rotation where he can go six or seven innings and then handoff to Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink and then finally Bobby Jenks, and the White Sox – clearly, in my opinion – are the team to beat.

Furthermore, despite the Sox’ shortcomings, there isn’t another team in the Central that doesn’t have more holes. Cleveland? Any team boasting of  Carl Pavano as their third starter – the last I checked his ERA was over 7 – is not going to contend for long.

The Minnesota Twins’ bullpen woes of 2008 have multiplied in 2009 and their young starters are pitching like, well, inconsistent young starters.

The Tigers? More inconsistent pitching, even if Dontrelle Willis’ shutout earlier this week is evidence of a turnaround, which I find unlikely. And I like some of the moves Kansas City has made, but please. It’ll be awhile before they challenge for the playoffs.

So yes, while the Sox will remain far from flawless if this deal happens, GM Kenny Williams may have orchestrated a coup. Gotta hand it to him. They’ll become the best of a mediocre collection of teams. And that, I’d say, you can pretty much “put it on the board.”