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How August Trades Work

By Mark Polishuk | August 1, 2017 at 8:47am CDT

Now that the July 31 trade deadline has passed, teams can still make trades, only with more restrictions than before.  The full list of rules surrounding post-deadline trades have, of course, been shared elsewhere, most notably in an article by Jayson Stark (then with ESPN.com) from all the way back in 2004, and in greater detail at Cub Reporter. Since the rules surrounding August deals are confusing, though, they’re worth reviewing here.

  • After the trade deadline, a big-league player must pass through revocable waivers before his team can trade him without restriction. These waivers last 47 hours. If no one claims him in that period, his team can trade him anywhere.
  • If a player is claimed, his team can do one of three things. It can trade the player to the claiming team, revoke the waiver request (in which case the player will remain with his original team), or simply allow the claiming team to take the player and his salary (although a player with no-trade rights can block this from happening).
  • A recent example of an August trade that developed from a waiver claim was the Mariners’ acquisition of Arquimedes Caminero from the Pirates last season.  The Mariners claimed Caminero and then worked out a deal with the Bucs to bring the right-hander to Seattle for two players to be named later. An example of a claim that didn’t result in a trade occurred in 2015, when an unknown team claimed Brewers reliever Francisco Rodriguez. The two sides couldn’t strike a deal, so the Brewers revoked their waiver request, and K-Rod remained in Milwaukee. Examples of teams simply letting players go via revocable waivers are more rare, particularly with big-contract players. That being said, it is always possible; in 2009, the White Sox claimed Alex Rios from the Blue Jays, who simply let him go to Chicago without a trade. The White Sox were thus responsible for all of the approximately $62MM remaining on Rios’ contract.
  • A team has 48.5 hours to trade a claimed player, and can only negotiate with the team awarded the claim on him.
  • It’s common for teams to place players on revocable waivers, and their having done so does not necessarily mean they have serious plans to trade them. As Stark points out, teams commonly use waivers of certain players purely as smokescreens to disguise which players they really are interested in trading. In fact, sometimes teams place their entire rosters on waivers.
  • If more than one team claims a player, priority is determined by worst record to best record in the league of the waiving team, followed by worst record to best record in the other league. For example, if an NL team places a player on revocable waivers, the team with the NL’s worst record will get first priority on claims, followed by every other team in the NL from worst to best, followed by AL teams from worst to best.
  • If a team pulls a player back from waivers once, it cannot do so again in August. So if a team places a player on waivers for a second time, those waivers will be non-revocable.
  • Players not on 40-man rosters are eligible to be traded at any time without passing through waivers.
  • A player on the disabled list can only pass through waivers if his minimum period of inactivity has passed and he is healthy and able to play at his accustomed level.
  • Teams can still make trades in September, but players acquired after August 31 can’t play in the postseason.

Players traded last August included such notable names as Caminero, Fernando Salas, Michael Bourn, Dioner Navarro, Sean Burnett, Coco Crisp, A.J. Ellis, Carlos Ruiz, Jeff Francoeur, Mike Aviles and Erick Aybar.  Due to the number of restrictions in place, it isn’t often that you see a true blockbuster deal go down in August, though it isn’t totally out of the question.  The biggest August trade in recent memory is easily the nine-player swap between the Dodgers and Red Sox in 2012 that saw Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett head to L.A.  That deal not only set the tone for the Dodgers’ free-spending ways over the last five years, but it also allowed the Red Sox to clear tens of millions in salary commitments off their books, paving the way for the team to reload in the offseason and go on to win the 2013 World Series.

This post is adapted from a prior series of posts.

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60 Comments

  1. partyatnapolis

    8 years ago

    never forget when the white sox got stuck with rios’s horrible contract

    1
    Reply
    • Sox

      8 years ago

      It really wasn’t a bad move if you look at his WAR, plus they turned him into Leury Garcia

      Reply
    • Priggs89

      8 years ago

      He wasn’t THAT bad for the White Sox… He was just super inconsistent from year to year, unfortunately. He was horrible the first season they got him (only like 40 games; -0.6 bWAR), then he raked for a year (3.4 WAR), then he was awful for a season (-1.9 WAR), then he raked again (4.8 WAR), and then he hit well enough (1.2 WAR) for them to get rid of him before his ultimate decline.

      In the end, he put up 6.7 bWAR (6.5 fWAR) over 599 games with the Sox. They paid him around $45mil in that time, which ends up at roughly $6.7mil/win. I’m not sure what the $/WAR conversion was back then, but if he were a free agent (basically was as he was claimed for nothing), I don’t think he would’ve been THAT overpaid, if at all.

      6
      Reply
      • bsteady7

        8 years ago

        Well done

        2
        Reply
      • hyraxwithaflamethrower

        8 years ago

        Agreed. I think with the $/WAR conversion from back then, given how salaries have grown in the last 8 years, he was overpaid, but probably by $1M/yr or less. Sox get too much crap for that deal and not nearly enough for the John Danks deal.

        Reply
        • mikecws91

          8 years ago

          You mean when they paid their really good pitcher and then he wrecked his shoulder two months into the contract? Give me a break.

          Reply
  2. asuchrisc

    8 years ago

    Wonder if the Astros will try to land a big fish via this route? I imagine Verlander will go unclaimed if they pass him through. Any other potential impactful starters (targets) that could possibly be sent?

    2
    Reply
    • TheAdrianBeltre

      8 years ago

      Pricey veteran starters that could make it through… Verlander, Hamels, Felix, possibly Samardzija(who is least expensive and having the best season probably). Interesting to see what Boston would do if someone claimed Price… They’re in it, but he is owed a lot of money.

      1
      Reply
      • Connorsoxfan

        8 years ago

        Hmm yeah that’s interesting I haven’t thought about that. Honestly I think if he’s out for a while they let him go and hope Brian Johnson can finally step up into a permanent spot in the rotation. But unless he’s out for over a month the backlash for letting your no. 2 starter leave during a pennant race for nothing, would just be insane in Boston I think. I’m not against it, but sometimes passion gets in the way of reason.

        Reply
        • Otto371

          8 years ago

          As a Sox fan id be thrilled if someone took that contract, even if it is for nothing. Price needs to go.

          1
          Reply
        • PeterDipersio

          8 years ago

          I agree Price would look good in a Dodgers uniform!

          Reply
        • Connorsoxfan

          8 years ago

          Yeah I can just see the fan base in general flipping because he may not be well liked, but he’s still a pretty good no. 2 starter. I just don’t see how you can do that in the middle of a pennant race. In the offseason, sure go ahead. You can find a way to replace him, I just don’t see how they can do it now,

          1
          Reply
        • leefieux

          8 years ago

          Lot of money for a #2 SP, tho.

          1
          Reply
        • jmi1950

          8 years ago

          Price never gets by the NYY. No matter how much BoSox want him gone, they could never let the NYY get him on waivers.

          Reply
        • thegreatcerealfamine

          8 years ago

          Yankees wouldn’t take him. That’s nuts. Plus he has a NTC!

          Reply
        • simschifan

          8 years ago

          To do what? You generally only have 4 pitchers in the playoffs. They already have 4 even more if needed.

          Reply
        • jmi1950

          8 years ago

          I do not think the Sox will put Price on waivers. I was responding to the Hou/LAD fans hoping for a waiver deal. If Price was put on waivers the NYY might make a blocking claim fearing he would go to Hou or LA in a trade. Cashman knows DD could never allow the claim because if Price led the NYY to a WS he would be run out of NE.

          Reply
        • panickingcalmly

          8 years ago

          Price is on the DL, he can’t be traded. Besides, if he were healthy, the Yankees wouldn’t claim him, not with that contract. They’re finally ridding themselves of Rodriguez (they’re still paying him) and Sabathia after this year. And contrary to what someone else wrote, Price doesn’t have a no-trade clause. mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/red-sox-sign-david-pric…

          Reply
        • jimmertee

          8 years ago

          No one is going to claim Price on a waiver claim. A GM would be putting his job on the line and not many clubs can carry a contract like that. I see Price will probably be good for 4 more years max as a #1 or #2 starter, that’s 4 years of contract he is being paid for nothing. Why Clubs give stupid contracts like that is beyond me.

          Reply
        • jimmertee

          8 years ago

          Both Verlander and Price contracts were given by Dombroski. He can build a team but the ownership end up saddled with bad contracts…

          Reply
  3. Thronson5

    8 years ago

    I can see someone snagging Verlander

    3
    Reply
    • jdgoat

      8 years ago

      No ones touching that contract

      3
      Reply
      • Thronson5

        8 years ago

        I wouldn’t put it past a team that’s desperate for an arm for the last two months and possibly the playoffs.

        1
        Reply
        • panickingcalmly

          8 years ago

          No team is that desperate.

          Reply
      • Connorsoxfan

        8 years ago

        If it’s for free someone might.

        Reply
        • Connorsoxfan

          8 years ago

          By free I mean no additional prospect cost, 28 million is not free lol

          Reply
    • max l

      8 years ago

      I could definitely see Houston claiming Verlander especially if McCullers is out for a while or the starters continue to struggle/get hurt. Whether he’d waive his NTC to go to Houston is another story though.

      2
      Reply
      • Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA

        8 years ago

        The interesting aspect is his NTC. I can see a team definitely blocking the Astros knowing JV has a NTC and no way Det is going to just dump his contract.

        2
        Reply
        • panickingcalmly

          8 years ago

          Best thing Detroit could do is dump his contract.

          Reply
      • hyraxwithaflamethrower

        8 years ago

        I highly doubt he’d go there. Since the Astros have the best record, they get the last refusal in the AL. Boston and NY could still both use rotation upgrades and are in win-now mode. I think one of them claims him first.

        1
        Reply
    • dugdog83

      8 years ago

      Teams had their best chance at JV now it’s waiting to the Winter meetings

      1
      Reply
      • bsteady7

        8 years ago

        Wrong. He’s still available

        1
        Reply
    • jayf

      8 years ago

      Maybe Boston puts Price on waivers, to see if someone [Houston] claims and then claim Verlander if he goes on waiver. Trade one bad contract for another but get a pitcher who could survive the Boston media circus!

      Reply
  4. IronBallsMcGinty

    8 years ago

    Rick Hahn will most definitely be trying to clean out more of the Sox clubhouse in August. Probably guys like Holland, Shields, Gonzalez, Clippard, Holmberg will be put on waivers. No idea what he could possibly do this off-season.

    4
    Reply
    • Matt Galvin

      8 years ago

      Nate Jones,Avasail Garcia,Carlos Sanchez could also be put on Waviers. Jose Abreu maybe not. Blue Jays,Phils,Braves,Angels,Twins and so on will also put guys in Waviers.

      Reply
      • Bungalows

        8 years ago

        His name is yolmer bro

        Reply
      • jdgoat

        8 years ago

        Every team puts almost their whole roster on waivers

        2
        Reply
    • hodor 3

      8 years ago

      They certainly will be put on waivers but I honestly think no one’s going to claim or pay for Holland, Shields or Gonzalez. They aren’t even really league average. There’s no trade value there.

      2
      Reply
      • alexgordonbeckham

        8 years ago

        Time to move Holland to the pen and use him against lefties. His splits against lefties are good enough that maybe a team would trade for him to add him to the pen. Someone took on Liriano so it’s possible.

        Reply
      • hyraxwithaflamethrower

        8 years ago

        Gonzalez will probably be claimed. He’s inconsistent, but has shown enough upside that I think some team will take a gamble on him. Sox won’t get more than a PTBNL for him, but that’s fine.

        Reply
  5. frankthetank1985

    8 years ago

    Hopefully the Mets can pull off some more too 20 prospects and or a MLB ready talent for Cabrera, Bruce, grandy, and walker. No room for any of them anymore (maybe Bruce). Try and get something for them before they go for absolutely nothing.

    Reply
    • Chris Sale Amateur Tailor

      8 years ago

      How? Nobody wanted them before the deadline

      2
      Reply
      • bsteady7

        8 years ago

        What he said ^

        Reply
      • frankthetank1985

        8 years ago

        They are “expensive”. Come mid August price drops more financially. Plus teams in the hunt need to be more aggressive the closer they get to the end of the year and maybe an injury or two pop up. It’s going to happen. St least one of them will go. Even if it’s for a bag of balls. I just hope to get some MLB value for it.

        Reply
  6. frontdeskmike

    8 years ago

    Does a team have information to all waiver claims, or just the awarded claim? For instance, if 10 teams place a claim on Giancarlo Stanton, will the Marlins know which other 9 teams placed a claim ? This can be a valuable tool in learning which teams have interest in a potential trade during the offseason if a claim is revoked.

    2
    Reply
    • hyraxwithaflamethrower

      8 years ago

      Don’t know, but you can claim someone to block another team from getting him. Marlins wouldn’t let him go for absolutely nothing, so he could be claimed, then that team could be unreasonable in their trade demands, and the Marlins just pull him back and wait for the offseason. Plus, if someone is really that interested in Stanton, they’ve probably called the Marlins already; I doubt there’s this high school “I wonder if he / she likes me, but I’m too scared to find out” thing going on.

      1
      Reply
  7. hittingnull

    8 years ago

    I never got why they implemented this system. Should just have the deadline extend to the last day of August.

    1
    Reply
    • thesix

      8 years ago

      It’s been in place since the 20s. The non-waiver deadline had been mid June until the 80s. My understanding is that the Giants and Yankees were exploiting their wealth, but that was nearly a century ago, so who really knows.

      1
      Reply
  8. Michael Chaney

    8 years ago

    Having to clear trade waivers applies to anyone on the 40-man roster and not just big league players, right? That’s what I thought but the wording wasn’t quite clear

    1
    Reply
    • frankthetank1985

      8 years ago

      I believe you are correct.

      Reply
  9. What

    8 years ago

    Never forget the Cards got Larry Walker for dust and expired Vess soda.

    1
    Reply
  10. SimplyAmazin91

    8 years ago

    Do you think anyone would claim Asdrubal Cabrera? And if so I wonder if the Mets may just let him go to save a couple million dollars.

    Reply
  11. SimplyAmazin91

    8 years ago

    Probably shouldn’t opt-out

    Reply
    • SimplyAmazin91

      8 years ago

      This was supposed to be on the Cueto article. The app is glitching.

      Reply
  12. BlueSkyLA

    8 years ago

    Apparently the blockbuster 2012 August trade only benefited Boston and for the Dodgers did no more than demonstrate their “free-spending ways,” which of course had nothing to do with the four division titles that followed.

    1
    Reply
    • jmi1950

      8 years ago

      The LAD’s are paying over 50MM for AGon & Crawford this year. In all the total $$$$ exceeded 250MM, with only AGon (25MM next yr) contributing to those division titles. I wouldn’t trade the Sox’s one WS title for the LAD’s 4 div titles.

      Reply
  13. 66TheNumberOfTheBest

    8 years ago

    Time for Huntingdon to dive in some dumpsters…how about a Rajai Davis type? Or get the Mets to eat some money on one of their OF’ers.

    Reply
  14. comish4lif

    8 years ago

    Does anyone know if there is a limit to how many players a team can put on waivers at one time? Is there a limit?

    Reply
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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

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