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By Steve Adams | at
Email a copy of 'Poll: The Best In-Season Waiver Claim' to a friend
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Doug in Ellicott City
I think the convoluted release and re-claim of Steve Pearce by Dan Duquette and the Orioles might be the move of the year.
Steve Adams
While a great move, that was a release and then a re-signing of Pearce, not a waiver claim.
Doug in Ellicott City
Agreed. The Blue Jays claimed him on waivers but Pearce had the right to decline which he did, so as to re-sign with Baltimore. The move really paid off for Baltimore and Pearce.
Flash Gordon
It’s always great to see a guy who sticks to it have a successful big league campaign after struggling as a Quad A guy for so long. That he came about after the age of 30 makes it all the better.
ian 2
Hard to vote against the Fuld claim and trade.
GeraldIII
Sierra went 4/4 in his first start with the Sox in May. Remove that game and his line drops to .256/.295/.397.
bucsws2014
I was torn between Axford and Thornton, but the deciding factor was the Bucs pen was a hot mess before Axford and has been great since (although Holdzkom and LaFromboise also helped). While Thornton helped the Nats, IMO, slotting Storen back at closer was a bigger deal.
sdubb15
Why isn’t JD Martinez on the ballot?
Steve Adams
Martinez signed a minor league deal in Spring Training. He wasn’t a waiver claim. We’ll put together something for minor league deals at some point as well. There were a lot of great ones though.
Over9000Walks
Gotta be Fuld. I means A’s had him, let him go, Twins claimed him, then traded him back to Oakland for a cost controlled arm. Not many people out swindle billy but this was probably the best anyone has.
Louisiana BB guy
Wow, where is Collin McHugh on this list?
Steve Adams
“In-season.”
steimel
Noesi. He’s had a career resurgence in Chicago. He’s even been really good at times.
sam valenti
He hasn’t been amazing, but I think that Jeffress deserves to at least be on the list here.
28 appearances, 27.2 innings, 1.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, a 3.83 K/BB ratio.
Not the sexiest of moves, but the brewers bullpen blew up after the break and he was one of the reason they stayed in the race so long imo.
Steve Adams
Wasn’t claimed on waivers. Signed a minor league deal.
sam valenti
Damnit you’re right!
Rally Weimaraner
Calling Sam Fuld the best waiver claim just because the A’s were willing to make a bad trade to acquire him doesn’t sound right to me.
Over9000Walks
It was the fact the A’s had him before they traded for him. They DFA him a month or so before they required him. That’s like the blue jays DFA esmil rodgers then trading back for him.
jb226 2
I went with Axford. With his new team fighting for a playoff spot, his performance is significant.
Individual players from the list may have better performances, but for me “best claim” is the one which makes the biggest difference. Axford is making a huge difference for the Pirates. Thornton is on a playoff team, but they’re going to win by like 17 games. The others ate innings/ABs for teams that weren’t going anywhere.
Now if you asked “which player would you bet on by keeping them next year” my answer would probably be different.
schaddy24
Jacob Turner? He didn’t play great, but his claim was a great long-term move.
Over9000Walks
Look at fangraphs. He’s pitched worse since going to the Cubs. He could actually wind up DFA in the off season or somewhere next season given he has no options left.
Steve Adams
I’d actually have included Turner, but he was technically acquired via trade. The Cubs claimed him on waivers, but they still had to send a pair of PTBNLs to Miami to facilitate the deal. Everyone on this list was either claimed off outright waivers or was let go on revocable trade waivers (Thornton, Axford).
Minnesota Matt
Can someone get the Twins to reassign the outfield scouts they have been using on other teams to scout starting pitching talent.. please?