Making clear they won't stand pat, the NL East-leading Washington Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitcher Tomo Ohka, hours before the right-hander was scheduled to start Friday.
The Nationals also picked up two right-handers off waivers Friday, Ryan Drese and Jacobo Seuqea.
Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star, will fill a hole left by injured second baseman Jose Vidro.
Spivey is batting .236 this season. He has a .272 career average with 46 homers and 194 RBIs in 429 games with Milwaukee and Arizona, but he's hit .308 against left-handers.
Vidro is expected out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle, and his backup, Jamey Carroll, missed the last two games with a sprained ankle.
DEVIL RAYS SIGN PICK: Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Wade Townsend wanted no part of another long holdout. The former Rice pitcher signed a minor league contract worth about $1.5 million Friday, just three days after he was selected eighth overall in the baseball draft.
That's less than the $1.85 million Baltimore offered last year, when Townsend also was the eighth pick. However, the 22-year-old right-hander insisted he had no regrets.