It's not always significant when a player goes on trade waivers.
It means nothing, for example, that the Tigers put 20-year-old Rick Porcello through the waiver process this week, and it means nothing that the Mets did the same with Johan Santana. Neither pitcher is getting traded, and if either one is claimed, the team will simply pull him back and nothing will happen.
But with 11 days to go before the deadline for setting postseason rosters, a few of the names on the wire this week could be of interest.
Among them:
-- Mets reliever Billy Wagner. It's highly unlikely that Wagner would get claimed, since he's coming off Tommy John surgery and has a contract that guarantees him almost $2 million for the rest of this year, plus another $1 million to buy out his 2010 option. But the Mets expect to activate Wagner from the disabled list Friday, and if he proves he's healthy, he could be a reasonable addition to a contender's bullpen. By the way, the Mets also put Luis Castillo, Elmer Dessens and Nelson Figueroa through the waiver process this week.
-- White Sox starter Freddy Garcia. Garcia gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings Tuesday, in his first big-league start of the year. Not good. But could he be an option for a National League team?
-- Royals starter Gil Meche. He has a huge contract ($12 million each of the next two years), and the Royals haven't been anxious to deal him. But he's beaten the Twins and White Sox this month (both with five-inning starts).
In other waiver news, Reds starters Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo have both cleared waivers, as has Orioles pitcher Mark Hendrickson. But Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell were both blocked.
A waiver primer: When a player clears waivers (meaning no team puts in a claim), he can be traded to any team. When a player is claimed, the team that put the player on waivers has two days to either let the claim go through, pull the player back (in which case he can't be traded this season) or work out a trade with the claiming team. If there are multiple claims, the claim is awarded to the team that is lower in the standings.
Playing the waiver game
Posted on: August 20, 2009 2:55 pm
Edited on: August 20, 2009 2:58 pm
Score: 260
Comments
bfavre4ever
Reputation: 64Level: Pro Since: Aug 21, 2009 |
Posted on: August 21, 2009 12:17 am
Score: 43
Playing the waiver gameThe way the Mets are in total self destruction mode right now. Why would they pull Santana back?? He is one pitcher. For what he makes the Mets could get 2 or 3 Good pitchers to build a rotation with in the off season.
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gopack10
Reputation: 95Level: Superstar Since: Sep 19, 2008 |
Posted on: August 21, 2009 12:51 pm
Score: 95
Playing the waiver gameBecause if he is claimed off waivers they wouldn't get significant value for him. The Mets aren't going to let Santana go regardless but it would make more sense for them to try to trade him in the offseason instead of letting someone claim him off waivers. Either way, Santana is a Met next year and the year after and the year after and so on. |
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kingbharat123 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 9, 2008 |
Posted on: August 21, 2009 4:34 pm
Score: 93
Playing the waiver gameIt does no harm for a team to put a player on waviers. Every player gets put this process so it isn't surprising that John Santana was put on waviers. Guys Alex Rodriguez, ark Texiera, Hanely Ramirez and Albert Pujos were put on waviers at some point but there is no need to make such big news about this becuase none of those gus are going to be traded. |
