The Red Sox are talking to the Braves about Adam LaRoche, the former Brave, SI.com has learned.

Boston just acquired LaRoche on Wednesday, July 22. But since they have agreed to a deal for Cleveland C/1B Victor Martinez, LaRoche is expendable.

The Yankees are in discussions to get utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Reds, SI.com has confirmed. The potential deal was first reported by the New York Post.

The Marlins are said to be "getting closer" to a deal for Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson. They have been offering pitcher Ryan Tucker. Florida will probably need to add one player to that offer.

The Twins acquired veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the A's for shortstop prospect Tyler Ladendorf.

Cabrera was hitting .280 with four home runs and 41 RBIs for Oakland. He recently gave a critical assessment of his performance, saying, "I s---."

Jarrod Washburn has the lowest WHIP in the American
League at 1.068.
AP

Just two days after acquiring Jack Wilson and Ian Snell from the Pirates and saying "No one is throwing up the white flag," Mariners general manger Jack Zduriencik seems to have done just that. With Friday's trade of Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers, the Mariners sent a signal that they are not going to make up the eight-game deficit staring at them in the AL West or the 6 1/2-game deficit -- behind four other teams -- they face in the wild card race.

In adding Washburn, the Tigers may now have the top starting rotation in the American League. Detroit already ranks in the top five in the American League in ERA (4.08, second to the Mariners), opponent batting average (.260), fifth in strikeouts and second in fewest hits allowed. And that was before they added Washburn, who is 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA and an AL-best 1.068 WHIP. He's been especially good of late, going 4-0 with a 0.74 ERA in his last 36 2/3 innings pitched, which includes seven innings of scoreless ball two starts ago in a win over the Tigers at Comerica Park.

Washburn brings some much-needed depth and balance to the Tigers' righty-dominated rotation. Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Galarraga and Rick Porcello are all righties. And while Galarraga and Porcello have been effective, Porcello is a prized prospect who is just 20 years old, meaning his innings count will be kept under close watch. Washburn ranks 16th in the AL in innings pitched and could ease some of the burden on the back-end starters in Detroit's rotation. He figures to slot into a top-three spot, which would put him in line for some postseason starts should the Tigers get there (they currently lead the AL Central by two games over the White Sox and 2 1/2 over the Twins).