Posted by Brian Joseph on Friday, July 31, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Roy Halladay stayed put but 17 teams shuffled 29 players in 10 deals to stack their decks to either make a go of 2009 or prepare for 2010.

In July, 27 teams made 30 deals involving 88 players (including one player twice and an 89th to be named later) with only the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers staying “clean” during the frantic month of moves.

The Red Sox and Indians were involved in five trades with the Pirates, Mariners and Athletics involved in four each although Pittsburgh’s trade of Nate McLouth came before the month of July, the Pirates were partially responsible for 17 different players changing teams. The Pirates have shuffled the deck so often that Ryan Doumit remains as the only Opening Day starter from 2008. (Thanks to BDD’s Rob McQuown for that factoid!)

Here’s a rundown of the 10 moves from today with a quick analysis of each move:

• Chicago White Sox acquire Jake Peavy from San Diego Padres in exchange for Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Adam Russell and Dexter Carter 

Analysis: It’s hard to look at this move as a stretch run deal since the White Sox acquired a pitcher currently on the DL. Despite Peavy being damaged goods, it’s hard to imagine White Sox fans not being excited about the addition of a former Cy Young winner entering his prime under contract through at least 2012. Sure, they gave up their #2 (Poreda) and #3 (Richard) prospects and two other promising youngsters but if Peavy returns healthy, no one will balk at the deal in a few years.

• Boston Red Sox acquire Victor Martinez from Cleveland Indians in exchange for Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price 

Analysis: There’s a simple trade deadline rule, if you acquire Red Sox prospects, you have to be happy. (It’s the rule right below you have to like everything Billy Beane does.) Masterson has had Major League success and should help the Indians immediately and Hagadone is touted as the club’s #3 prospects by Baseball America. The Red Sox shouldn’t sweat it though. This is the team that traded away Hanley Ramirez and didn’t bat an eyelash and Martinez can rake.

• Florida Marlins acquire Nick Johnson from Washington Nationals in exchange for Aaron Thompson

Analysis: The Nats received something in return for Johnson who is likely to depart at the end of the year and the Marlins picked up an on-base machine who is injury prone. Not a bad rental and not a huge price although Thompson is a left and has an impressive changeup.

• New York Yankees acquire Jerry Hairston Jr. from New York Yankees in exchange for Chase Weems

Analysis: There was a crazy rumor that Hairston cost the Yankees Austin Jackson, their #1 prospect, but in the end it was Weems, a sixth round selection from the ‘07 draft currently catching in Class-A ball. Hairston is a jack of all trades and master of none but gives the Bronx Bombers something useful off of the bench.

• Cincinnati Reds acquire Scott Rolen from Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart

Analysis: This one is kind of puzzling unless you are stuck on memories of a younger, more healthy Rolen. It’s not really the talent cost but the monetary cost to the Reds that gives the nod to the Jays who were able to trim $11 million off of next year’s payroll and add a few arms to roll the dice on. Roenicke’s fastball and Stewart’s rise from Class A to Triple-A this season make both worth keeping an eye on, especially with Toronto’s uncanny knack of finding pitching talent.

• Boston Red Sox acquire Casey Kotchman from Atlanta Braves in exchange for Adam LaRoche

Analysis: LaRoche gets a Red Sox jersey as a keepsake for his short stay in Beantown and the Sox add a competent first baseman with potential (although Kotchman hasn’t blown the doors off of anyone, yet.). The Braves get the “Legend of the Second Half” monster in LaRoche. Adam started his career as a Brave and played in the organization from 2000 to 2006. Within the division, the Braves helped themselves the least of the three contenders in the National League East.

• Minnesota Twins acquire Orlando Cabrera from Oakland Athletics in exchange for Tyler Ladendorf

Analysis: Billy Beane made the move so it must be good for the Athletics. Considering the way Ron Gardenhire manages to squeeze every ounce of talent out of players that put on a Twins uniform, the deal is probably a win-win for both teams.

• Milwaukee Brewers acquire Claudio Vargas from Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Vinny Rottino

Analysis: The Dodgers needed to empty a locker and a seat in the bullpen for George Sherrill’s arrival (Now, they just have to find someone to straighten out the brim on one of those Dodgers caps!) and the Brewers needed to be involved in Trade Deadline day. Vinny Rottino isn’t highly touted, isn’t especially young and doesn’t have a cool ’stache like Sal Fasano once did. Good news for Vinny: At some point, he’ll meet Alyssa Milano and that can never be a bad thing, right?

• Detroit Tigers acquire Jarrod Washburn from Seattle Mariners in exchange for Luke French and Mauricio Robles

Analysis: The web savvy Mariners fans are probably dancing around in their boxers in mom’s basement since French is seen as a younger version of Washburn. Some probably feel the M’s won’t miss a beat with the exchange and long-term will benefit since most thought Washburn’s 2009 success was nothing more than a mirage. For the Tigers, they add a left-handed pitcher who is past his prime in age but pitching like he did in 2002 when he won 18 games with the Angels and finished fourth in Cy Young voting. With a bushel full of pitching talent ahead of French and Robles on the depth chart, the Tigers aren’t giving up much to take a shot on Washburn continuing his success, no matter what the Mariners fans tell you.

• Colorado Rockies acquire Joe Beimel from Washington Nationals in exchange for Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian 

Analysis: The Rockies needed another left-handed bullpen arm and the Nats needed, well, anything. Beimel’s time in D.C. could have traumatized him to the point where he is no longer effective but it’s nice to see him back in the big leagues. Now, Mattheus and Fabian will get their shot to progress to play for Major League Baseball’s Quad-A franchise in Washington.