According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, "there remains a small chance Nomar Garciaparra will go to a contender" before Monday's waiver trade deadline.
Garciaparra, according to Slusser's sources, cleared waivers "some time ago." The Phillies had interest in the utilityman this winter and reportedly sent scouts to watch him play this weekend. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said recently that his club is done dealing, but there remains some need for a right-handed hitting presence on the reigning World Champions' bench beyond Ben Francisco and Eric Bruntlett.
Nomar has gone hitless in his last 14 pinch-hit appearances and is batting just .264/.299/.364 this season with two home runs and 13 RBI in 129 at-bats for the A's. But he's a .321/.386/.589 career postseason hitter with seven home runs and 24 RBI over 112 late-October at-bats, and has always been regarded as a solid clubhouse guy.
