Archives for August 2008

Yesterday, we wrote about waiver trade candidates for the American League.  Despite the post title, I tried to be more comprehensive and list all of the players who I think might clear waivers.  That’s why players such as Derek Jeter and Michael Young were named.  I know they won’t be traded this month, but they could still go unclaimed if placed on waivers given their large contracts.

Also, as one reader pointed out yesterday, a player does not have to clear waivers to be traded.  He can be traded to or dumped upon the team that wins the claim, if there is one.

Here are the NL players who might clear waivers this month, generally excluding injured players.

• Phillies: Brett Myers, Adam Eaton, Tom Gordon, Geoff Jenkins, So Taguchi.  Maybe Taguchi could go in a minor deal.  Myers makes $12MM next year, but the Phillies would probably prefer to keep him and get him back on track.
• Marlins: Wes Helms, Mark Hendrickson.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see one of these two guys moved.
• Mets: Johan Santana, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Pedro Martinez, Luis Castillo.  We know the stars aren’t going anywhere.  Pedro and Castillo are especially likely to clear but aren’t coveted players.
• Braves: Mike Hampton, Mark Kotsay.  The Braves would have to eat all of the remaining $4.6MM to move Hampton.
• Nationals: Austin Kearns, Dmitri Young.  Both are signed through ’09, and teams won’t want to take that on.
• Cubs: Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis, Bob Howry, Scott Eyre, Jon Lieber.  Marquis still has $11.8MM coming to him through ’09.
• Brewers: Eric Gagne, Jeff Suppan, Ray Durham, Bill Hall, David Riske, Guillermo Mota. The Brewers have some undesirable contracts on the books.
• Cardinals: Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen, Adam Kennedy, Cesar Izturis.  In general, most contenders probably won’t be shipping off veterans.
• Astros: Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Kaz Matsui, Randy Wolf, Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Mark Loretta, Brad Ausmus.  Multiple candidates to clear waivers, though the Astros still have their eye on the prize.
• Reds: Adam Dunn, Francisco Cordero, Bronson Arroyo, Jeremy Affeldt, Corey Patterson, Javier Valentin, Matt Belisle, Josh Fogg.  I’d be surprised to see Dunn get through waivers unclaimed, even though the Reds still owe him $3.9MM.  Keeping him now makes the most sense anyway.
• Pirates: Freddy Sanchez, Jason Michaels, Jose Bautista, Chris Gomez, Doug Mientkiewicz.  The Pirates don’t have any massive, ugly contracts on the books.  Sanchez’s remaining $7.9MM through ’09 is the worst.
• Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson.  Nothing too ugly on the books here aside from the Eric Byrnes contract, which runs through 2010.
• Dodgers: Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Juan Pierre, Angel Berroa, Pablo Ozuna.  I’m sure the Dodgers wouldn’t mind unloading Jones or Pierre to clear up the outfield a bit.
• Rockies: Todd Helton, Kip Wells, Yorvit Torrealba, Willy Taveras, Cory Sullivan, Glendon Rusch.  Helton’s back is still bothering him, not that there’d be interest anyway.
• Giants: Barry Zito, Randy Winn, Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel, Rich Aurilia, Brad Hennessey, Kevin Correia, Tyler Walker.  Brian Sabean should be active in trying to unload a few of these contracts.
• Padres: Greg Maddux, Trevor Hoffman, Tadahito Iguchi, Brett Tomko, Wil Ledezma.  If the Dodgers do try to acquire Maddux, it’s possible another team could claim him just to block the trade.

5:33pm: I noticed that Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe rattled off a slew of possibilities to clear waivers this month, including Kevin Millar, Rafael Betancourt, Bobby Crosby, Mark Ellis, Alan Embree, and Raul Ibanez.

9:19am: Today let’s take a swing through the American League and identify players who could clear waivers this month.  If a player clears waivers he can be traded to any team for another such player or a prospect not on the 40-man roster.

• Rays: Trever Miller, Jonny Gomes.  Gomes is already earning $1.275MM this year; he might be a non-tender candidate after the season.  Miller is earning $2MM.  Both are having poor seasons.
• Red Sox: Jason Varitek, Julio Lugo, Mike Timlin, Alex Cora.  These players should pass through waivers unclaimed, but no one will want to trade for them.  Lugo has $20.8MM remaining on his contract.
• Yankees: Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Ivan Rodriguez, Carl Pavano.  Many of the Yanks’ high-priced stars could clear waivers, but trading them wouldn’t make sense.  Pavano could be moved in the right situation.
• Blue Jays: Scott Rolen, Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, Gregg Zaun.  The Jays don’t seem likely to attempt to unload any of these contracts, except maybe Zaun.  Jon Heyman believes A.J. Burnett could also slip through waivers.
• Orioles: Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez, Jay Payton, Jamie Walker.  It’s not hard to envision most of these guys clearing waivers, and maybe a few salary dump deals can be worked out.  Huff’s .912 OPS ranks 10th in the AL, and he has about $10.5MM left on his contract through ’09.  I could see a team claiming him.
• Twins: Michael Cuddyer, Mike Lamb, Adam Everett.  These players should all clear waivers.  Lamb and Everett could become DFA candidates.
• White Sox: Jim Thome, Ken Griffey Jr., Paul Konerko, Jose Contreras, A.J. Pierzynski, Juan Uribe, Mike MacDougal.  The Sox have plenty of high-priced vets who could make it through waivers.  Konerko would be tough to move given his poor performance and 10-and-5 rights.
• Tigers: Gary Sheffield, Edgar Renteria, Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson.  The Tigers are seven games out in the AL Central; a few weeks from now they might look to get some money off the books.
• Royals: Jose Guillen, Jimmy Gobble, Ross Gload.  Gobble and Gload don’t seem likely to help a contender, while the Royals apparently want to keep Guillen.  Jon Heyman believes Mark Grudzielanek would clear.
• Indians: Paul Byrd, David Dellucci, Jamey Carroll.  Byrd has almost $2.5MM left on his deal, but we could still see a team put in a claim.  Jon Heyman thinks Byrd will clear waivers.
• Angels: Garret Anderson, Gary Matthews Jr., Justin Speier.  The Halos have some questionable contracts, but trades are not expected.
• Rangers: Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Michael Young, Frank Catalanotto, Marlon Byrd.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see Catalanotto and/or Byrd moved this month.  Padilla is owed more than $17MM through ’09.  If a team claims that contract maybe the Rangers should let him go.
• Athletics: Eric Chavez, Emil Brown.  An August deal seems unlikely for the A’s.
• Mariners: Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, Jose Vidro, Kenji Johjima, Miguel Cairo.  All kinds of bad money here.  Washburn has another $13.45MM coming through ’09, but he might be claimed.  Jon Heyman believes Adrian Beltre would also clear waivers.