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Players Who Cleared Waivers

By Tim Dierkes [August 18, 2008 at 9:59am CST]

I will make this post a permanent sidebar link. This is a running list of players who have cleared waivers, based on published reports. Once a player clears waivers, he can be traded to any team (barring a no-trade clause).

Updated 8-25-08 at 9:00am. Latest to clear in red.

Paul Byrd - Byrd cleared waivers, but then was traded to the Red Sox. They were the only team willing to pay his remaining $2MM.
Frank Catalanotto - Catalanotto, 34, is hitting .272/.337/.389 in 267 plate appearances. He's played first base and left field this year. He's not helpful against lefthanded pitching. His contract is a problem - $765K this year, $4MM in '09, and a $2MM buyout in '10.
Eric Gagne - Gagne has been awful this year, as his walks and home runs skyrocketed and he dealt with rotator cuff tendinitis. Understandably, no one wanted to pay the $2.15MM remaining on his contract.
Aubrey Huff - Huff's .909 OPS ranks 10th in the league, but surprisingly no team wanted to take on his $10.1MM commitment through '09.
Mark Kotsay - Ken Rosenthal says he cleared and a number of teams are interested. Kotsay clearing is a bit of a surprise since the A's are paying most of his salary. Kotsay can block trades to eight teams. The center fielder is having a nice comeback season with a .782 OPS in 324 plate appearances.
Greg Maddux - Maddux is earning $10MM this year and will only accept a trade to a West Coast team. The Dodgers wanted him but asked the Padres to pay more than 80% of his remaining salary according to Peter Gammons.
Kevin Millar - Millar has been OK this year; he may reach 20 home runs. He is owed about $710K from here on out.
Kevin Millwood - Millwood, 33, has a 5.24 ERA in 122 innings this year. He's dealt with a groin injury for much of the season, as well as a hamstring issue in spring. Millwood will earn another $1.6MM this year and $11MM in '09. His 2010 salary of $12MM becomes a club option unless he pitches 180 innings in '09.
Melvin Mora - Mora has raised his numbers and stock significantly by hitting .378/.421/.652 since the beginning of July. He has a full no-trade clause and is owed $9MM next year and $1.79MM more this year.
Vicente Padilla - Padilla, 31 in September, has a 4.98 ERA in 148.1 innings. Home runs have been his main problem. He spent time on the DL with a strained neck. He'll earn another $2.1MM this year and $12MM in '09. He has a $12MM club option for '10 with a $1.75MM buyout.
Jay Payton - Payton is the O's regular center fielder with Adam Jones out for the season. He is owed $1.3MM for the rest of the season. He's been lousy offensively, though he can hit lefties and play all three outfield positions.
David Riske - Riske is owed $860K more this year, $4.25MM in '09, and $4.5MM in '10 plus a $250K buyout for a total of almost $10MM. Walks have been a problem this year, as well as elbow pain.
Dave Ross - Ross had cleared waivers prior to being designated for assignment. He is earning $2.525MM this year.
Duaner Sanchez - His velocity is down 3.6 mph from '06. Sanchez is under team control through '09.
Scott Schoeneweis - His strikeout rate is down, but so is his ERA. Apparently no team wanted to risk taking on his contract - $910K more this year, $3.6MM in '09.
Gary Sheffield - No surprise here. Sheff is owed around $17.5 million between this year and next.
Jamie Walker - The 37 year-old southpaw has a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings this year. As usual, home runs have been a problem. He spent time on the DL with elbow inflammation and is set to earn $4.5MM next year.
David Weathers - Weathers is owed only $610K on the season, and he has a 2.52 ERA and 2.78 K/BB since the beginning of June. I am quite surprised he cleared waivers.

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Comments

Tim,

You mentioned the no-trade clause issue with respect to a trade if they clear waivers, but what happens if a player w/ a no-trade clause (or a 10-5) is put on waivers and someone makes a claim? Can the player with a no-trade clause or 10-5 rights prevent the current team from simply accepting the waiver claim and dumping the player on the team making the claim?

Posted by: nickfit | August 06, 2008 at 10:37 PM

Why would the Padres move Maddux to save just 20% of his remaining contract? If he does play next year there is a chance that the Dodgers would get draft compensation as well.

Seems like zero upside for the Padres.

Posted by: bjsguess | August 06, 2008 at 10:41 PM

I don't have ESPN insider. Are you saying Maddux has cleared waivers?

How could the Rockies possibly NOT claim him?

Posted by: bobo | August 06, 2008 at 11:21 PM

Well that explains why he didnt go to LA, why on earth would the Padres eat 80% of the contract? Well so much for it being the Padres didnt get the players they were looking for.

Posted by: AirmanSD | August 07, 2008 at 12:11 AM

Brian Giles was claimed off waivers by an unknown team:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8420598/Sources:-Padres%27-Giles-claimed-on-waivers

Posted by: icedrake523 | August 07, 2008 at 12:19 AM

icedrake a little bit late on that, check an earlier post on this website.

Posted by: AirmanSD | August 07, 2008 at 12:25 AM

Jets trade for Brett Favre.

Yes.

Posted by: nrmax88 | August 07, 2008 at 12:32 AM

Nickfit - I'm 99.9% certain that a player can't block a waiver claim.

Posted by: kosmo @ www.ObservingCasually.com | August 07, 2008 at 07:54 AM

you can not block a waiver claim

Posted by: derman1984 | August 07, 2008 at 09:20 AM

While Maddux couldn't block a waiver claim, he could choose retirement over reporting to a team he doesn't want to play for.

Posted by: Michael | August 07, 2008 at 09:30 AM

How did Schoeneweis pass through waivers? With the need for lefthanded relievers on teams in contention(the cardinals come to mind, although I do love Jaime Garcia) you'd think at least one team would put in a claim.

Posted by: DirtyThirty | August 07, 2008 at 09:45 AM

Yes, Maddux cleared waivers according to Gammons.

I don't know the answer to nickfit's question but Michael's answer seems reasonable.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | August 07, 2008 at 10:22 AM

I bet you see a few Indians names on this list. Maybe even a Ryan Garko, David Dellucci if anyone is stupid enough to want him, Raffy Bentancourt and Paul Byrd. This is speculation, but I can see it coming.

Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2008 at 10:24 AM

OK, I have learned the answer to our question. A player with a no-trade clause CAN block an attempted straight salary dump. So if the Phillies had won a claim on Maddux and the Padres just tried to dump his contract on them, Maddux could veto that.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | August 07, 2008 at 11:45 AM

I'm a little surprised that a team like the Cardinals didn't claim Byrd.

Posted by: John Difford | August 07, 2008 at 12:40 PM

Any reason why the White Sox haven't shown any interest in Byrd? His remaining salary will be close to what Garcia is going to ask for, he's healthy, and, although it was a few years back, he was the only pitcher to beat the White Sox during the playoffs of 2005.

Posted by: kelo | August 07, 2008 at 12:42 PM

I see the Indians hoping a team takes on the salary so they can use it on a closer.

Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2008 at 12:55 PM

Schoeneweis cleared waivers? Aren't there some teams that could REALLY use bullpen help *cough* Cardinals *cough.

Posted by: melonis rex | August 07, 2008 at 02:49 PM

Can anyone comment on why the Rockies wouldn't claim Maddux?

If SD wanted to give him away (and Maddux agreed), good for them.

If they could work out a trade (and Maddux agreed), good for them.

If the Padres pull him back, good for them (block the Dodgers).

But by not claiming him they now risk him being traded to the Dodgers.

Makes no sense whatsoever. Anyone? What am I missing?

Posted by: bobo | August 07, 2008 at 03:06 PM

Bobo:

Perhaps the Rockies feel Maddux is a worse option than what they are throwing out there right now. They feel that maddog would not be an improvement to their chances and taking valuable monetary commitment that the dodgers have not been wanting to take on in the past.

Posted by: corbin | August 07, 2008 at 03:56 PM

Adam, Ryan Garko is young, cheap, and this is the first year in his career that he has struggled at the plate. Plus, he has an option. Yes, he's had a crummy season but he's not the kind of guy you expose to waivers. Don't be silly.

Posted by: MickS | August 07, 2008 at 04:02 PM

Mick, 27 is hardly young...the guy is below average at 1B, below average power, and now not hitting for an average. He is the slowest man on the field at all times...and honestly not a MLB caliber player. The Indians have LaPorta coming up next year, and Martinez will get a nice amount of time at 1B....so yes, he is very much expendable.

Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2008 at 04:14 PM

27 is no prospect, but for a hitter it's before peak. All of his numbers (BABIP, LD%, WPA) speak to his disappointing season, but he only has 1 year of service time and is making 0.5 million. He's way too valuable to put on waivers. Victor will get lots of time at first next year, but LaPorta will not. LaPorta has been playing OF in the minors and will not likely switch back to 1B in the majors.

Posted by: scottiedawg | August 07, 2008 at 04:44 PM

LaPorta's MLB position depends on how some of the other players play. If Trevor Crowe continues to play as well as he is, he will be in the OF next year with Sizemore and Francisco, moving LaPorta to 1B. If Crowe doesnt play at a MLB level and Guiterrez and Choo struggle, then LaPorta will be in LF and Victor will split time at 1st with Garko.

Posted by: the lowercase zach is better | August 07, 2008 at 05:42 PM

Look at when Mills and Weglarz come up...then there is definitely no room for Garko. We can't have a stockpile of players at the same position. Garko is still a minor leaguer playing in the bigs...actually half our team is minor league talent. Marte, Cabrera, Garko, Guiterrez, Choo...all shouldn't be starting on big league clubs right now.

Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2008 at 05:49 PM

Adam, it will all get resolved in off-season moves. The waiver wire is simply not the way to do it with young, cheap players with options. It's for unloading veterans with big contracts.

Posted by: MickS | August 07, 2008 at 07:03 PM

Just a question Mick, who do you think we will be departing with during the August trades, and this winter?

Posted by: Adam | August 07, 2008 at 11:53 PM

Sure Crowe has a the potential to be better than Choo, Francisco, and Gutierrez, but only time will tell. He just reached AAA.
Gutierrez, Choo, Francisco, and Garko are still only 25, 26, 27, and 28, so they're not necessarily tapped out yet.

As for Mills and Weglarz, no one doubts their talent, but they're both still at High-A, probably at least 1-2 years away. I see LaPorta getting a cup of coffee with the tribe in September and then joining the team for good next year before June. He's kind of a mesh of Pronk and Ryan Braun, which is scary awesome.

As for guys to move, it would be nice to see Dellucci, Byrd, Carroll, and Betancourt moved for something. Westbrook too, but his trade value is way down. The Indians will have to do some work to shore up the rotation. Lee, Carmona, Laffey, Ginter, Westbrook/Reyes/Huff won't cut it. Maybe Adam Miller will rebound.

Posted by: scottiedawg | August 08, 2008 at 10:24 AM

You people are killing me.

Hello is there any body in there.

Any player worth a crap is pulled back if they get claimed on the waiver (then can not be traded until the end of the season). The whole purpose of this clearing waivers thing is to see who on your team you can trade. This is done to hundreds of players each year (without the player or public knowledge). The rockies can claim Maddux and the Cardinals can claim Byrd, but it doesn't mean they will receive that player. Some team may want a player, and if he clears waivers then they can try to trade for him.

Posted by: dontyouknowanything | August 08, 2008 at 10:51 AM

Westbrook too, but his trade value is way down.
You can't trade an injurded player. Who would trade for Westbrook? Name me one team that would trade for this injured player and pay his high contract.

Posted by: dontyouknowanything | August 08, 2008 at 10:55 AM

Any reason why the White Sox haven't shown any interest in "Byrd? His remaining salary will be close to what Garcia is going to ask for, he's healthy, and, although it was a few years back, he was the only pitcher to beat the White Sox during the playoffs of 2005."

Wouldnt be suprised to see it happen now. Contreras done for the year with a ruptured achilles. Basically a 5th starter is what they need.

Posted by: forlife61 | August 10, 2008 at 12:49 AM

Mariners fans what happened? I thought wasburn was going to get you ian kennedy+change? Gosh all these gms must not see how great of a pitcher he is! Hope you enjoy paying that #5 10 million next year.

Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | August 10, 2008 at 01:27 AM

====================================

You guys wish Ian Kennedy was pitching like Washburn right now. What did he go for you guys last start? 2 innings and 5 runs? Besides, Pelekoudas was supposedly after Gardner or Cabrera. Not Kennedy.

Talk all the crap you want about Washburn and how the Mariners should have given him to the Yanks for nothing. We aren't the ones falling out of the race because we have NO pitching.

Pettitte, Joba, Wang and Hughes hurt? Kennedy, Ponson and Rasner sucking much? So desperate that you are throwing a guy like Giese starts?

Have fun being beat out by the Sox and Rays because Cashman is stubborn. I would rather the Mariners keep Washburn so I can enjoy the Yanks missing out on the playoffs. A guy like Washburn could bridge some pretty big gaps for you guys about now. But if he is worth a bench outfielder like Gardner or Cabrera... ah well.

Posted by: thr33niL | August 10, 2008 at 02:33 AM

Let's be fair: The Yankees aren't falling out of the race for lack of Jarrod Washburn, nor would he save them if they would have acquired him. He's a slight improvement over some of those guys, but not for any player worth anything or $10MM next year.

I'm not sure how many people thought the Yankees were going to win their division this year, or even make the playoffs--but those hopes fell apart pretty early in the season even for the believers, I would think. Now as the injuries pile up and their chances become more and more remote, it's not the time to be adding mediocre players who won't get them over the hump and actually hurt them for next season.

The Yankees probably aren't the type of franchise to ever just pack it up and start selling off the pieces, but they don't have to add anything either--not if it doesn't help them next year. If nothing else I think that $10MM next year would be more useful than Washburn.

Posted by: Jon B. | August 10, 2008 at 02:56 AM

Hey I don't know if anyone noticed but yesterday Giese threw a hell of a game... the bullpen just imploded.

For what it's worth: Moose, Pettite and Ponson have pitched well... Pettite not his last few starts though. Giese has throw exceptional his last few outings. It's been that last spot the Rasner/kennedy spot that's been bad. However, we still have Hughes coming back, probably Joba (if they're not way out of the race), and the guy everyone forgot about Carl Pavano - who is said to be looking great in his rehab starts... his pitches are looking great they're saying. I mean there isn't one team that has had this many injuries on pitching that is still a contender. We've lost more then 60% of our starting rotation as of opening day. I include Joba because as they said day 1 he would be a starter this year.

Wang (hurt)
Pettite
Moose
Hughes (hurt)
Kennedy (hurt)
Chamberlain (Hurt)

At least LAA got Lackey back; but they're in a weak division. Yankees would be winning that one too.

With all their injuries they still have the 6th best record in the AL..

They're not going to get anything for Washburn, they gave those demands at the deadline to multiple teams, and they just laughed at them.

THe last thing i heard was that they wanted: Melky, Gardner + cash for Washburn.

Posted by: casper | August 10, 2008 at 09:22 AM

THe last thing i heard was that they wanted: Melky, Gardner + cash for Washburn.

Posted by: casper | August 10, 2008 at 09:22 AM

================================

I agree that, if true, those are some ridiculous demands. I think Wash's salary + one of those guys is pushing the envelope. I don't think we'll ever know for sure if Pelekoudas overvalued Washburn that much. But he has said all along that the Mariners are not interested in dumping salary. So I could see him asking for Cabrera or Gardner + another player with the Mariners paying some of Washburn's salary. He kept reiterating when asked about trade talks that he wants to get players back.

In any case, like I said, we'll never know.

Its just funny to me that Yankee fans come on here and gloat about the Mariners not trading Washburn when NY needed him more than Seattle needed to dump salary. In all actuality, the Mariners did need to dump Washburn ...but not for money.. for his rotational spot. Morrow is going to be in the rotation next year and with guys like Dickey and Ryan Roland Smith doing well, we are a little overflowing in the starting five since Silva is going to be there too.

We'll see. Seattle still has time to move Washburn. I'm sure if they pay some of his money owed, they'll get a decent player back.

Posted by: thr33niL | August 10, 2008 at 11:32 AM

Again not a yankee fan. If the mariners would pay most of the comtract then they would have the right to ask for someone like melky or gardner but I gues we'll never know what they really asked for. The mariners rotation is stacking up well next year. Hernandez,silva, bedard, Morrow and Roland smith is not bad in my eyes. They should have let washburn go as a salary dump to use the money next year for a bat.

Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | August 10, 2008 at 12:19 PM

thr33nil-
No you guys are just the worst team in mlb. So even if the yankees miss the playoffs you have played maybe the most dissapointing season ever.

Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | August 10, 2008 at 12:21 PM

Why would the Yankees ever agree to having Seattle pay some of the salary? That means that the prospects get better, but in all actuality the Yankees never have and never will need a team to take some of the salary...they can just open the pocket book more.

Posted by: Adam | August 11, 2008 at 09:40 AM

Also I am pretty suprised Paul Byrd hasn't moved yet. His complete game last week seemed to be the icing on the cake for a plane ticket to a contender.

Posted by: Adam | August 11, 2008 at 09:43 AM

A general question here...let's say a team is awarded a claim on a player who had multiple bidders and the team can't work out compensation for a deal.

Can that player go back on waivers, or does the next in line who claimed him get a chance? Or is the guy simply off limits for the rest of the season?

Posted by: wayne gomes | August 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM

wayne gomes - Only the team awarded a claim on the player can work out the deal on him. If not, the player stays with his original team. At least, that's what I think.

Posted by: melonis rex | August 12, 2008 at 02:31 PM

What's the logic behind the order of this list? Any chance you can be more consistent putting the new ones on top? Same problem with odds and ends sometimes too, but here it's way out of hand, unless you have some other system of ordering that I can't see.

Posted by: MetFanBen | August 14, 2008 at 11:29 PM

D'oh! Looking at it again it's obviously alphabetical by last name. Still, I think it would be more reader friendly if it were done with the new ones going on top, that way we can get the new news without having to try to remember who was already up there.

Posted by: MetFanBen | August 14, 2008 at 11:30 PM

Yankee fans ... please stop it.

The Yanks lost 3 out of 5 projected starters. Fine. The Angels lost Lackey, Escobar, and Mosely. 3 out 5. You also failed to mention that 2 out of those 3 were top 10 in the Cy Young last year. Unlike Hughes/Kennedy who were totally unproven. The fact that there was some turmoil in the Yankee rotation should not come as a surprise to anyone.

As for the Yankees not expecting to win this year ... what a bunch of bull. Why go after a $10m backstop if you are just playing out the season? Why not move pieces at the deadline to retool instead of trading for Nady/Marte? And finally, how can you NOT be playing to win when your payroll is $200m. Come on now.

I think we can all agree that both the Yankees and the Mariners are huge disappointments this season.

Posted by: bjsguess | August 18, 2008 at 01:46 PM

I wouldn't say that the Yankees didnt expect to win this year, but I definitely think that Brian Cashman was prepared to miss out on the playoffs this year, or atleast saw this as a very real scenario, when he declined to get a deal done for Haren or Santana. He elected to keep his 3 kids, and in doing this basically assured atleast 2 of them of having jobs in the starting rotation, and thus pinning his hopes for a 2008 playoff run on 2 rookies performing decently this year, or the offense putting up a huge amount of runs to offset the growing pains of 2 rookie pitchers logging big innings for the first time. So while I wouldn't say that Cashman expected this, I definitely think he saw a scenario where the Yankees were not playing in October, and was okay with it, because of the confidence he has in Hughes and Kennedy and Joba. He definitely is not shocked.

Posted by: nrmax88 | August 18, 2008 at 02:59 PM

"As for the Yankees not expecting to win this year ... what a bunch of bull. Why go after a $10m backstop if you are just playing out the season?"

The Yanks were going to go after Pudge this offseason as a free agent. This way they (1) get a good look at him to see if he's worth the money they'll have to pay him, and (2) get the jump on negotiations, perhaps even by offering him arbitration (though that's unlikely). Meanwhile, he might help them win a few games, which never hurts. The money, it goes without saying, is no object for the Yankees.

Posted by: ColonelTom | August 18, 2008 at 03:18 PM

If I'm the Redsox I'm taking a chance on Kevin Millar as a bench bat, and Dauner Sanchez as a minor leaguer until rosters expand..

Posted by: Bosox4416 | August 18, 2008 at 04:31 PM

Players Who Cleared Waivers

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