Victor Martinez got traded into a pennant race and Jake Peavy said yes to the team he turned down two months ago.

Roy Halladay, however, stayed put in Toronto.

Highlighting a flurry of deals finished just before Friday's deadline, Martinez was shipped from the rebuilding Cleveland Indians to a contender in Boston, while Peavy went from San Diego to the Chicago White Sox.

"Everybody knows I play to win," said Martinez, a three-time All-Star who gives the Red Sox the big bat they were seeking. "I want a World Series ring."

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 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.

In May, the Padres and White Sox reached a deal for Peavy, but the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner turned it down.

"He never said no, he just said, 'Not yet,"' Chicago general manager Kenny Williams said.

This time, Peavy agreed to waive his no-trade clause.

"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 chase 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.

The 28-year-old Peavy had spent his entire career with the Padres. He is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 starts 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 late August.

The Red Sox wanted Martinez all along.

Looking to boost the offense, 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. The switch-hitter is batting .284 with 15 home runs and 67 RBI.

Boston also sent recently acquired Adam LaRoche and about $1.5 million to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman in a swap of left-handed hitting first basemen.

Martinez, who had spent his whole career with Cleveland, fought back 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."

Rolen, a five-time All-Star, was dealt from Toronto to Cincinnati for a package of three players that included fellow third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.

Detroit acquired Washburn from Seattle for left-hander Luke French and minor leaguer Mauricio Robles, giving the Tigers an experienced lefty as they try to maintain their slim AL Central lead.

Minnesota 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.

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