Deadline Deals
Cleveland, OH – Jake Peavy said yes to the Chicago White Sox, and Victor Martinez will take aim at the Green Monster.
Highlighting a flurry of deals finished just before the trade deadline, Peavy was shipped out of San Diego on Friday while Martinez went from the rebuilding Cleveland Indians to a contender in Boston.
“What we’re getting in Victor is a middle-of-the-order, switch-hitting batter who can catch, play first, DH,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “It’s a very valuable piece. There are a lot of things to like about Victor.”
Scott Rolen, Jarrod Washburn, Orlando Cabrera and Nick Johnson were other notable players on the move as teams stocked up for the stretch drive.
Roy Halladay, however, stayed put. After fielding offers for their coveted ace, the Toronto Blue Jays decided to retain the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner – at least for now.
The biggest surprise of the day was probably Peavy. Sidelined with an injured ankle, he finally agreed to join the White Sox, who landed him with their second pitch of the season.
to the Padres: Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell. The teams barely beat the 4 p.m. EDT deadline to make deals without waivers.
“It came together very quickly, probably in the last 30-20 seconds,” White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. “We were really concerned that it wasn’t going to happen.”
In May, the Padres and White Sox agreed to a deal for Peavy, but the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner turned it down. This time, he agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the AL pennant race.
“He never said no, he just said ‘not yet,”’ Williams said.
The 28-year-old Peavy is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 starts with the Padres this season but has been on the disabled list since June 13 with a strained tendon in his right ankle. Williams said the White Sox don’t expect Peavy to pitch until the end of August.
The Red Sox hope Martinez will provide an offensive boost right away.
Looking for a big bat, they acquired the All-Star slugger for right-hander Justin Masterson and minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price.
It was the Indians’ second major trade in 72 hours – they dealt reigning Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Martinez has split his time at catcher and first base this season. He is batting .284 with 15 home runs and 67 RBIs.
ack tears after being told by general manager Mark Shapiro that he’d been traded. He sat in front of his locker, hugging 4-year-old son Victor Jr. – earlier in the day, the young boy asked his dad, “Are we still an Indian?”
“It’s tough,” Martinez said, his voice choked with emotion. “It’s tough when you know you’re leaving your house and leaving the organization that gave you a chance to play in the big leagues. This organization made me a better ballplayer and a better person. It’s tough, but life continues and I have to keep moving on.”
Martinez leaves Cleveland a day before the Indians were to hold Victor Martinez Bobblehead Night at Progressive Field. Before Friday night’s game, workers for a sign company removed banners outside the ballpark with Martinez’s picture on them.
Martinez will move right into a pennant race, joining a Red Sox team that is second in the AL East behind the New York Yankees, but leads the wild-card chase.
“Everybody knows I play to win,” said Martinez, a three-time All-Star who entered the season with a .298 career average. “I love this game and I’ll go there and do the same thing. As soon as I cross the line, I’m all about winning.”
cluded cash to cover part of Rolen’s salary.
Batting .320 with eight homers and 43 RBIs, Rolen has one more year left on an eight-year, $90 million deal he signed with St. Louis. Former Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty made it a priority to get Rolen.
“He will bring a lot to this ballclub that’s been lacking,” said Jocketty, in his second season as the Reds GM. “He brings leadership. He’s a veteran. I think he’ll add a lot to this club. And he’s still playing well. He’s a good RBI man and a Gold Glove at third base.”
Detroit acquired Washburn from Seattle for left-hander Luke French and minor leaguer Mauricio Robles, giving the Tigers an experienced lefty for their rotation as they try to hold on to the AL Central lead.
Washburn, third in the AL with a 2.64 ERA, joins All-Stars Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson on Detroit’s starting staff.
The Minnesota Twins made a move to upgrade at shortstop, acquiring Cabrera and cash from Oakland for minor league infielder Tyler Ladendorf.
Johnson went from last-place Washington to the cost-conscious Marlins, a surprise contender in the NL wild-card race. Florida acquired the first baseman and cash for a pitching prospect, left-hander Aaron Thompson.
Posted: 7/31/09 11:00PM ET