Jake Peavy finally agreed to pitch for the White Sox.

The San Diego Padres traded their ace to Chicago yesterday, barely beating the deadline to make deals without waivers.

The Padres got four young pitchers for the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner — Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell.

In May, the Padres and White Sox agreed to a deal for Peavy, but he turned it down. This time, Peavy agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the AL Central contenders.

"The ultimate decision was when the team you're playing for actively keeps telling you they need to move you, and one team comes after you like Chicago did, you're excited to play for a team where you know you're wanted," Peavy said during a news conference in San Diego.

He added: "In May, we didn't think it was the right time."

The White Sox began play yesterday in third place in the AL Central, 2 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit.

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. White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said the White Sox don't expect Peavy to pitch until the end of August.

Over eight major league seasons with the Padres, Peavy is 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA.

He will have a salary of $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. His initial contract included a $22 million club option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout.

INDIANS-RED SOX

MARTINEZ TO BOSTON FOR THREE PITCHERS

The Boston Red Sox got the big bat they were looking for, acquiring All-Star slugger Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians yesterday.

The rebuilding Indians received right-hander Justin Masterson, and minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price.

The 30-year-old Martinez has split time at catcher and first base this season. The switch-hitter is batting .284 with 15 home runs and 67 RBIs.

"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," Martinez said.

Martinez leaves Cleveland a day before the Indians were to hold Victor Martinez Bobblehead Night.

Cleveland has slashed nearly $25 million in payroll by trading pitcher Cliff Lee, Martinez, third baseman Mark DeRosa, reliever Rafael Betancourt and first baseman Ryan Garko.

ELSEWHERE

Reds-Blue Jays: Cincinnati got Scott Rolen from Toronto in a swap of third basemen.

Edwin Encarnacion was part of a package of three players the Reds gave up to acquire Rolen, who is batting .320 with eight homers and 43 RBIs.

They also sent right-handed reliever Josh Roenicke and a minor leaguer to the Blue Jays, who included cash to cover part of Rolen's salary.

Twins-Athletics: Minnesota upgraded its middle infield by acquiring shortstop Orlando Cabrera from Oakland.

Twins general manager Bill Smith traded Class A infielder Tyler Ladendorf for Cabrera and cash.

Cabrera, a two-time Gold Glove winner, has a .318 on-base percentage, but is hitting .373 in 110 at-bats this month.

Tigers-Mariners: Seattle traded left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn to Detroit.

The Mariners sent the 34-year-old to the Tigers for left-hander Luke French and minor league pitcher Mauricio Robles.

Washburn is 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA in 20 starts this season.

Red Sox-Braves: Boston traded recently acquired Adam LaRoche to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman in a swap of first basemen.

LaRoche was dealt from Pittsburgh to Boston for two minor leaguers July 22. LaRoche is batting .248 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs for Pittsburgh and Boston.

Kotchman is hitting .282 with six homers and 41 RBIs.

Marlins-Nationals: First baseman Nick Johnson has been traded from Washington to Florida.

Johnson, 30, is batting .295 with six homers, 44 RBIs and a .408 on-base percentage in 98 games with Washington.

The Nationals got left-hander Aaron Thompson from Florida.

Reds-Yankees: New York acquired infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. from Cincinnati.

The Reds received minor league catcher Chase Weems in the deal.

Hairston is batting .254 with eight homers and 27 RBIs. He can play six positions.

Steroids: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo admits he took amphetamines. Whether that put him on the 2003 list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, he says he's not sure.

"What I said was anybody could be on the list," Arroyo said last night. "I said I wouldn't be surprised if I was."

Arroyo played for the Boston Red Sox from 2003-05.