The San Francisco Giants have strengthened their rotation by acquiring starting pitcher Jake Peavy from the Boston Red Sox.

In return, the Red Sox received pitching prospects Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree reported MLB.com.

With the Red Sox getting off to a slow start coming out of the All-Star break, it appears they have decided to look ahead to next season. The Sox, losers of four straight games, are currently in last place in the AL East, 10.5 games behind the leading Oriels.

The Giants, on the other hand, are in the tightest division race in baseball, having just a half game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West.

Peavy, a three-time all-star, is having quite possibly the worst year of his career, with a 1-9 record and a 4.72 ERA. The awful record is not entirely on him, though. The Sox offense has given two or fewer runs of support in eight of Peavy's last nine starts.

The Giants will need Peavy to be worth the $14,500,000 he makes this year, if they are to stop the Dodgers from winning back-to-back division titles.

USA Today has noted the trade was necessary due to the injuries suffered by Giants starting pitchers. Giant ace, Matt Cain, has no timetable for when he will return from elbow inflammation, so Peavy will need to step up early on for the Giants.