Headlines

  • Dodgers Sign Miguel Rojas To Contract Extension
  • Jake McGee Retires
  • Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke
  • Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority
  • Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension
  • Blue Jays Sign Chad Green
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

7 Best Waiver Claims Of The Past Year

By Jeff Todd | August 29, 2017 at 9:58pm CDT

Inspired by a question in a recent chat, I decided to search for the most worthwhile waiver claims placed over the past year. While there are relatively few monumental wins, several players have turned in productive runs with their new organizations since being allowed to depart for nothing but the waiver fee. And many look to carry future value, as well.

Here’s the list of the claims since last August that have provided the most value to their current teams:

  • Blake Parker, RH Reliever, Angels (link): Halos GM Billy Eppler might have made out like a bandit when he poached two righties last October from the Yankees, but the club later lost both pitchers on waiver claims by other organizations. One (see below) ended up succeeding in his new digs, but Eppler got a second chance when he re-claimed Parker. Over 57 2/3 innings on the year, Parker has posted a sterling 2.18 ERA with 11.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 along with a 50.4% groundball rate. He sports a robust 14.1% swinging-strike rate and a personal-high 94.0 mph average heater. Parker will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this fall.
  • Kirby Yates, RH Reliever, Padres (link): Yates is the one that got away from the Angels, as he was claimed by the Pads earlier this season after just one ugly appearance for Los Angeles. The 30-year-old has scuffled a bit of late, and has been prone to the long ball, but still carries a palatable 4.09 ERA over 44 frames. More importantly, he has racked up 14.1 K/9, on an outstanding 17.7% whiff rate, against 3.2 BB/9 on the year. Yates looks like a keeper and shouldn’t be terribly expensive when he hits arbitration over the offseason.
  • Scooter Gennett, 2B, Reds (link): The 27-year-old has put on a power outburst since coming over from the Brewers. While he has continued to struggle against left-handed pitching, and doesn’t draw plaudits for his glovework, it’s hard to ignore a .286/.339/.529 batting line and 22 home runs over 389 plate appearances. Gennett has provided quite some value to Cincinnati for his $2.5MM salary, though that’ll head northward in his second season of arb eligibility.
  • Dominic Leone, RH Reliever, Blue Jays (link): Though Leone had enjoyed prior MLB success when he went to Toronto from the D-Backs over the wire, the 25-year-old had largely struggled since his impressive 2014 debut. He has gone on to spin sixty frames of 2.55 ERA ball for the Jays, logging 10.2 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 while carrying a 14.5% swinging-strike rate. Better still, Leone likely won’t qualify for Super Two status next year, leaving the Blue Jays with another season of bargain pitching and three more years of arbitration control.
  • Stephen Vogt, C, Brewers (link): Though an injury has limited the 32-year-old to just 18 games since his mid-season claim, Vogt has absolutely raked in that span. He’s slashing .279/.319/.674 with five home runs as a Brewer, making him an important part of the team’s roster down the stretch. Vogt won’t likely command a big increase on his $2.965MM salary in arbitration this fall — his second-to-last year of eligibility — and so could also represent a useful future asset for Milwaukee.
  • Doug Fister, SP/RP, Red Sox (link): Though he has hardly dominated, Fister has given Boston much-needed innings since being claimed after a brief run in the Angels organization. Over 59 2/3 total frames this year, through nine starts and three relief appearances, he carries a 4.53 ERA with 7.7 K/9 against 4.1 BB/9. Nothing jumps off the page there, but league-average results from an affordable swingman are always welcome.
  • George Kontos, RH Reliever, Pirates (link): It would be silly to make too much of the five strong innings Kontos has thrown since arriving recently in Pittsburgh, though he has allowed just one earned run on two hits and a walk while recording seven strikeouts. More importantly, the 32-year-old seems to represent an affordable and useful pen piece for the future. Kontos, who owns a lifetime 3.03 ERA through 320 2/3 frames in the majors, will command a relatively modest bump on his $1.75MM salary next season and can be controlled via arbitration in 2019 as well.
Share 0 Retweet 18 Send via email0

MLBTR Originals

Outrighted: Selsky, House, Scheppers
Main
MLB Daily Roster Roundup: Anderson, Gallo, Turner
View Comments (43)

Comments

  1. JDGoat

    5 years ago

    Peter O’Brien needs to be on this list.

    Reply
    • beauvandertulip

      5 years ago

      U drunk?

      Reply
      • CardsNation5

        5 years ago

        Lol

        Reply
    • IACub

      5 years ago

      If only he received those rave reviews…

      Reply
    • willgrigg

      5 years ago

      Well he keeps getting claimed so he must be doing something right

      Reply
    • Jon_Snow

      5 years ago

      Peter O’Brien hasn’t made it as a major league player as of yet, but dang it is he a legend here on MLBTR. May the not rave reviews keep coming!

      Reply
  2. realgone2

    5 years ago

    Fister? Really?

    Reply
    • johnsilver

      5 years ago

      Iffy I’d call it with 3 solid starts, 1 average and 5 stinkers. They have mostly kept Hector Velazquez in the minors because of him and he’s dominated at Pawtucket this season, plus done fair in the few chances with Boston other than a stinker start early in the season.

      Reply
    • siddfinch1079

      5 years ago

      Fister?? I hardly know her!

      Reply
    • soxfan1

      5 years ago

      He’s pitched circles around Cleveland twice. Definitely needs to make better decisions but when he’s on a roll that sinker is a ground ball machine.

      Reply
  3. Gogerty

    5 years ago

    Great to see you out together a post based on an interesting chat question. Great work as usual.

    Reply
  4. Megadro2000

    5 years ago

    Daniel stumpf?
    Wait was that this year?

    Reply
    • strostro

      5 years ago

      rule 5

      Reply
  5. Michael

    5 years ago

    Don’t really have a clue why Evans let Kontos go for nothing. He hasn’t had a clue with anything he’s done recently either.

    Reply
    • tattooed trash

      5 years ago

      Bobby Evans is the smartest man in the room. He is also the only man in the room.

      Reply
    • WillieMaysField

      5 years ago

      The Giants will have a 40 man roster crunch this off-season. Kontos doesn’t figure into thier long range plans and no one was willing to trade anything for him at the deadline.

      Reply
  6. baseball10

    5 years ago

    Expected a more impressive list honestly, but it is in short time period I guess.

    Reply
  7. JDGoat

    5 years ago

    Dominant Leone has been a pleasant surprise this year

    Reply
  8. Keg 2019

    5 years ago

    Sam Dyson?

    Reply
    • Wolf Chan

      5 years ago

      I believe Dyson was a straight trade for cash or ptbnl, not a waiver claim

      Reply
  9. FOmeOLS

    5 years ago

    What about Parker Bridwell?
    The Orioles let him go for NOTHING.
    And he would have been the #2 guy in the Oriole rotation instead of the #1 guy for the Angels. Can’t get much better then that.

    Reply
    • halos and quacks

      5 years ago

      He was traded for cash

      Reply
      • FOmeOLS

        5 years ago

        He was DFA-ed, claimed and let go for the cost of the waiver claim, which is about 50 K, so this article totally applies to him, and yes, 50K is nothing.

        Reply
        • aff10

          5 years ago

          He wasn’t claimed, he was traded. If he were claimed, I’m sure he would’ve been in the top 5, but he’s out of the scope of this particular article

        • Steve Adams

          5 years ago

          Bridwell as acquired for peanuts, but he was acquired in a trade for cash or a PTBNL — not a waiver claim. It’s been a great pickup for the Angels all the same, but Jeff was correct to not include him for the purposes of this post.

  10. frankiegxiii

    5 years ago

    Can anyone name some players who were cut from one team and then played above average or better for their next team a la Justin Turner???

    Reply
    • angels fan

      5 years ago

      David Ortiz

      Reply
    • AZPat

      5 years ago

      On November 12, 2010, Encarnacion was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. On December 2, he was non-tendered by the Athletics, making him a free agent.[12] On December 16, 2010, he signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays worth $2.5 million, with a club option worth $3.5 million in 2012 (Wikipedia) The Blue Jays were the team that initially waived him in 2010.

      Reply
    • Stat_head

      5 years ago

      JD Martinez was cut by the Astros in March 2014 & signed 2 days later by the Tigers. He came up from AAA in April & hit 315/.358/.553/.912. That worked out very well.

      Reply
      • frankiegxiii

        5 years ago

        Awesome examples guys

        Reply
  11. wreckage

    5 years ago

    Kontos can’t be included in this. One bad inning and it appears to be a bad claim.

    Reply
  12. formerdraftpick

    5 years ago

    Shouldn’t this article have been written after Juan Nicasio is claimed?

    Reply
  13. brewpackbuckbadg

    5 years ago

    Jesús Aguilar?

    Reply
    • firstbleed

      5 years ago

      +1

      Reply
  14. Brent4liberty

    5 years ago

    Why isn’t Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon on the list?

    Reply
    • aff10

      5 years ago

      Because this article is addressing waiver claims only, not minor – league signees or minor trades

      Reply
      • aff10

        5 years ago

        Downvoted for facts lol

        Reply
  15. tribefan48

    5 years ago

    Is Nick Goody an option cause he has a sub 3 ERA on arguably the best team in the AL

    Reply
    • aff10

      5 years ago

      Trade too

      Reply
  16. Dookie Howser, MD

    5 years ago

    Should have made it a top 6 list and left poor Doug Fister alone.

    Reply
  17. BronxBombers14

    5 years ago

    No Ronald Torreyes?

    Reply
    • aff10

      5 years ago

      He was claimed two years ago I believe. He was a Yankee last season

      Reply
      • BronxBombers14

        5 years ago

        Yeah. I think you’re right. My bad.

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Dodgers Sign Miguel Rojas To Contract Extension

    Jake McGee Retires

    Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke

    Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority

    Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension

    Blue Jays Sign Chad Green

    Rays Extend Yandy Diaz

    Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement

    Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension

    Red Sox, Marlins Swap Matt Barnes For Richard Bleier

    Darren O’Day Announces Retirement

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Royals, Red Sox Swap Adalberto Mondesi For Josh Taylor

    Red Sox Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment

    Recent

    Join Our Live Chat With Former MLB Pitcher And Current Scout Tim Fortugno

    The Opener: DFA, Extensions, Player Chat

    Giants, Stephen Piscotty Agree To Minor League Deal

    Mets To Hire Carlos Beltran As Special Assistant To The GM

    AL Notes: Ohtani, Angels, Vespi, Yoshida, Red Sox

    MLBTR Chat Transcript

    Rays Notes: Adam, Peralta, Extensions

    Twins Sign Locke St. John To Minor League Deal

    Yankees Sign Ian Hamilton To Minor League Deal

    Quick Hits: Muñoz, Sadler, Vavra

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version