On second thought, Peavy agrees to deal

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jake Peavy said yes to the Chicago White Sox. Roy Halladay, however, stayed put in Toronto.

Highlighting a flurry of deals finished just before the trade deadline, Peavy was shipped out of San Diego on Friday.

Scott Rolen, Jarrod Washburn, Orlando Cabrera and Nick Johnson were other notable players on the move as teams stocked up for the stretch drive during a busy day that featured 11 trades.

Halladay remained with the fourth-place Blue Jays. After fielding offers for its coveted ace, Toronto decided to retain the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner — at least for now.

“We never really came close at all,” general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “We were never moved. We listened and we were never moved by a club that made us jump up and say, ‘Wow this is something that will make us better in the future.’ ”

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.

“A lot has changed since the first time this came around,” Peavy explained. “In May, we had just won five or six games in a row and had creeped above .500, and Chicago wasn’t really in the shape that they’re in now.”

Locked in a crowded race for the AL Central title, the White Sox sent four young pitchers to the Padres: Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell. The teams barely beat the 4 p.m. cutoff to make deals without waivers.

In May, the Padres and White Sox reached 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.

Boston, who acquired Victor Martinez from the Indians, also sent Adam LaRoche and approximately $1.5 million to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman in a swap of left-handed hitting first basemen.

Rolen was dealt from Toronto to Cincinnati for a package of three players that included third baseman Edwin Encarnacion. The Reds included cash to cover part of Rolen’s salary.

Detroit acquired Washburn from Seattle for left-hander Luke French and minor leaguer Mauricio Robles. Washburn, third in the AL with a 2.64 ERA, joins All-Stars Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson in Detroit’s rotation.