Jake Peavy
The Chicago White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres for left-handed pitchers Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda, and right-handed pitchers Adam Russell and Dexter Carter.
Peavy, 28, has a 3.97 ERA in 81.2 innings pitched this season. Richard, 25, has a 4.65 ERA in 89.0 innings pitched this season.
The Chicago White Sox got an ace in Peavy, but gave up a king’s ransom for him. Peavy is currently on the disabled list and might not pitch again this season. The right-hander is under contract through 2012.
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The Florida Marlines acquired first baseman Nick Johnson from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Minor League left-handed pitcher Aaron Thompson. The Nationals will pay the remainder of Johnson’s salary.
Johnson, 30, is hitting .295/.408/.402 in 424 plate appearances this season.
Scott Rolen
The Cincinnati Reds acquired third baseman Scott Rolen from the Toronto Blue Jays for third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and Minor League right-handed pitchers Zach Stewart and Josh Roenicke. Toronto will pay the remaining $4 million left on Rolen’s contract.
Rolen, 34, is hitting .320/.370/.476 in 373 plate appearances this season. Encarnacion, 26, is hitting .209/.333/.374 in 165 plate appearances this season.
Rolen asked out of Toronto for personal reasons. Moving to Cincinnati should only help his hot season. Encarnacion will finally get a chance to prove his potential.
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The Colorado Rockies acquired left-handed relief pitcher Joe Beimel from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Minor League right-handed pitchers Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian.
Beimel, 32, has a 3.40 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched this season.
The Rockies will use Beimel primarily against lefties. Colorado has added help for closer Huston Street at this trade deadline by acquiring Beimel and right-hander Rafael Betancourt.
The New York Yankees acquired utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. in a trade for Minor League catcher Chase Weems. Hairston Jr., 33, is hitting .254/.305/.397 in 340 plate appearances this season.
I suppose Hairston can fill-in here or there for player’s taking off-days, but I’m sure this is not the caliber of move Yankees‘ fans were expecting before the trade deadline.
The Atlanta Braves acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Boston Red Sox for first baseman Casey Kotchman.
LaRoche, 29, is hitting .248/.326/.446 in 387 plate appearances this season. Kotchman, 26, is hitting .282/.354/.409 in 336 plate appearances this season.
Weird deal. I can understand the Sox trying to unload LaRoche with the Victor Martinez acquisition, but to acquire another first baseman in exchange is just strange, especially one with less service time. LaRoche will step into a starting role in Atlanta, while Kotchman is stuck in a logjam in Boston. LaRoche is a free agent after the season.
Victor Martinez
The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price.
Martinez, 30, is hitting .284/.368/.464 in 435 plate appearances this season. Masterson, 24, has a 4.50 ERA in 72.0 innings pitched this season.
Martinez will likely see time at a few places (catcher, first, and DH), but Mike Lowell seems to take the biggest hit with the deal. Boston seemingly has an excess of first basemen now. Masterson should be ready to jump into the rotation immediately, unless Cleveland wants to give him more time. Hagadone is not far from the Bigs either. Price still has a ways to go.
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The Minnesota Twins acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Oakland Athletics for Minor League shortstop Tyler Ladendorf. Cabrera, 34, is hitting .280/.318/.365 in 448 plate appearances this season. Ladendorf, 21, was a second round pick in the 2008 Amateur Draft.
The Twins finally solidify their shortstop position. Cabrera, who is a free agent after the season, has a stipulation in his contract that he cannot earn a Type-A status.
The Detroit Tigers acquired left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners for left-handed pitchers Luke French and Mauricio Robles. Washburn, 34, has a 2.64 ERA in 133.0 innings pitched this season. French, 23, has a 3.38 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched this season.
Washburn will slide in behind Verlander and Jackson in the Tigers‘ rotation. Detroit should be wary, Washburn’s periphireals suggest he has overachieved thus far this season.
CastroTurf does a rundown of the four prospects received by the Cleveland Indians in exchange for pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco. The list includes pitcher Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson.
Jennifer Langosh at MLB.com takes a look at the prospects the Pittsburgh Pirates have received in their trades of second baseman Freddy Sanchez, shortstop Jack Wilson, and pitcher Ian Snell.