Waiver Trade Candidate: Randy Wolf

Phillies' southpaw starter Randy Wolf makes $9MM this year in the last of a four-year deal.  This makes him an ideal candidate for a waiver trade before August 31st.

Wolf turns 30 this month.  He made his first start since June 12, 2005 last Sunday due to Tommy John surgery.  His return was also delayed a bit because of a broken hand bone from a line drive.  As you would expect with a recent Tommy John guy, Wolf's control was lacking in his '06 debut.  He probably won't get his walks down to below 3 per nine innings until 2007.  For what it's worth, Wolf says his arm feels "incredible" now.  His velocity still hasn't fully returned despite 25 rehab innings.

Still, like Kip Wells, Wolf could be a helpful addition as a fifth starter for a contender.  His next few starts (against the Mets and Braves) will be crucial in building up some trade value.  Teams like the Red Sox, A's, Braves, and Reds could have interest in Wolf assuming they are still in contention in a few weeks.

Comments

[registereduser]

RotoAuth- Who are the 5 biggest OF bats that you could see possibly coming available in August?

[RotoAuthority]

Hmmm I will have to do some research on that one. Ryan Klesko, maybe Mike Sweeney if they can get healthy?

[craig_willard]

What about Pat Burrell? Any hopes of the Phils unloading him?

[registereduser]

If Varatek is hurt I could see Javy Lopez going to Boston.

[RotoAuthority]

Burrell is tough because he has a no-trade clause and can reject any waiver claim.

[registereduser]

Is Shawn Green about a 100% lock to clear waivers? If he does do you think he will take the hint that the dbacks dont want him, and accept a trade out of town?

[Kramerica Industries]

"Burrell is tough because he has a no-trade clause and can reject any waiver claim."

I thought you cant even go on waivers if a player has a no-trade?

[RotoAuthority]

I think he can go on them. From Todd Zolecki:

But just to be clear: Abreu, Burrell, Lieberthal and Cormier have the power to reject a waiver claim by any team they choose. If they don't want to play for the Royals or anybody else, they can reject their claim. They have that right. In other words, the Phillies remain at the players' mercy. They can't unload Burrell's contract that way. They would have to hope a team would pick up his contract by claiming him off waivers, then hope that Burrell would accept it.

[wood34]

Wolf would be a great pickup for a team with a need for a fifth starter as it would give them the upper-hand to sign him with an incentive-based contract for next year. And signing him would have a chance ot be one of the best deals in baseball as he may return to post-surgery form by this time next year.

[wood34]

i meant pre-surgery, not post-surgery.

Sorry 'bout that

[DoctorCurveBall]

Wolf would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He's likely to clear the waivers of many teams due to his salary but a team like the Red Sox could afford him. They took a risk on Mike Lowell with a high salary, Wolf might fit.

[Kramerica Industries]

They might need a catcher more

[DoctorCurveBall]

Yeah, but it's not about what you need more. You can get both. Nobody set a limit at one waiver claim per team. So they could get both a pitcher and a catcher. Interesting how that works, huh?

[RotoAuthority]

Waiver claim limit is 7 players per day.

The Red Sox didn't really take a risk on Mike Lowell. They were stuck with him as the only way to get Beckett.

[Kramerica Industries]

"Waiver claim limit is 7 players per day."

Interesting how that works, huh?

[wood34]

Sox should go after Wolf and J. Lopez if they are available

[kujayhawks15]

What about Reggie Sanders, he would clear waivers, wouldn't he?

[dholzer007]

Apparently Varitek tore something in his knee and is having surgery...put on the 15 day DL, but no news on how long he'll be back. So does Theo basically have to go get Javy Lopez now? If so, I bet the Orioles front office is having a party.

[DoctorCurveBall]

My quote:

"Nobody set a limit at one waiver claim per team"

Actually

"Waiver claim limit is 7 players per day."

So I was right. I just don't understand why you would say they need a catcher more and thus shouldn't go after a starting pitcher on waivers.

And by the way, I would say Mike Lowell was a risk at $9,000,000 for a player who put up a .236 BA, a .298 OBP, and a .360 SLG. Starting him was a risk.

[Mmm Dunkin Donuts]

Starting Lowell wasn't much of a risk, because the Red Sox were fully prepared to eat his salary as a means to acquiring Beckett in the event that he crumbled. I think it's safe to say that he was on a short leash, but he came out of Spring Training strong enough to lay any questions about last year to rest, so the Sox didn't have to visit the question of what to do with a $9M bench jockey.