Cleveland Sports Forum

Matt Underwood:
Tribe will designate Derek Lowe for assignment tomorrow and call up Corey Kluber from AAA to start game.

Waiver trades still option for teams seeking help

By Matthew Leach / MLB.com | 08/01/12 9:30 PM ET

Trades in baseball aren't dead for the year. They just got a lot more difficult.

The non-waiver Trade Deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but clubs can still trade players. The complication is that any Major League player who is traded now must pass through waivers in order to be dealt. If the player clears waivers, he can be dealt to any team. If he is claimed, his team can either pull him back off waivers or work out a deal with the team that claimed him. Players acquired in August are eligible for the postseason with their new teams.

It's certainly an extra degree of difficulty, but it's not prohibitive. Big deals can happen in August, such as when Larry Walker went to the Cardinals in 2004. Given the nature of this year's pre-Deadline dealing, in which not many top prospects changed hands, the leagues seemed primed for a flurry of waiver trades.

A large number of the significant trades over the past few weeks involved a team being willing to take on a contract, such as when the Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez. Those are often the sorts of deals that happen in August, so it wouldn't be at all surprising to see a few deals of some magnitude go through.

Here's a look at some of what's out there, and why.

Big deals:

There are a few players who you can be quite certain will clear waivers, regardless of their current ability, due to their contracts. Alfonso Soriano is owed more than $40 million over the next two-plus seasons. Josh Beckett has about $37 million more coming his way. Vernon Wells' contract calls for him to receive a bit less than $50 million before it's over.

In short, these players aren't going to get claimed, because of the risk that if you claim him, the original team would simply say, "Hey, take him, he's yours!"

But that doesn't mean they're without value. Soriano has hit 19 homers and is slugging .499, so despite another low on-base percentage, he could be intriguing to a team needing some sock -- if the Cubs picked up some of that deal. Beckett isn't currently healthy, but the Red Sox believe he won't be out long. Once again, if they were willing to pay some of the deal, they might find a taker.

As for Wells, it doesn't seem likely he'll go anywhere. But if someone called the Angels, they'd likely listen.

Need a reliever?

A couple of guys who have been effective closers very recently might be available. It's been a rough year for both Francisco Rodriguez and Heath Bell, but there's not much in life more unpredictable than the performance of a relief pitcher. So some team might get the idea that it can fix either right-hander, and take a chance.

Bell has quite the onerous deal, and in fact might fit in the above category. He's set to make $9 million in each of the next two seasons. Rodriguez, though, is a free agent at the end of this year and only has about $3 million more coming to him. By the end of August, that will be less than $2 million. It's not nothing, but it's not a huge, long-term commitment.

Players with closing experience always seem to intrigue teams, and Rodriguez and Bell have more than 400 career saves between them. Don't be shocked to see them with new addresses by the end of August.

Solid starters:

Top-flight starting pitchers are unlikely to change hands at this point in the season. But for teams that need innings, some second-tier guys might be available.

The Phillies and Orioles worked hard to get a Joe Blanton deal done before Tuesday's Deadline, but couldn't reach an agreement. There's nothing saying they couldn't revisit those talks, and in fact it's easy to envision. The Brewers could well put free-agent-to-be Shaun Marcum on the block if he shows he's healthy. Marcum is recuperating from an elbow injury.

The Pirates might put Kevin Correia on the block after the right-hander expressed dismay at being moved to the bullpen. You never know when that depth might come in handy, though, so it would be entirely reasonable for Pittsburgh to hang on to Correia just in case.

Big-name bats:

There's also potential aid for teams looking for adjustments to their lineups or benches.

Carlos Lee already changed teams once this year, but the Marlins could look to send him away, perhaps to an American League team where he could be a part-time designated hitter. The Indians would probably listen to offers on Travis Hafner and Johnny Damon, and the Cubs might consider dealing David DeJesus.

A particularly interesting situation exists in Kansas City, where Jeff Francoeur is signed through next year but is helping to block one of the game's best prospects. If the Royals found a taker for "Frenchy," they could then play Wil Myers regularly. Of course, it's possible that they're in no rush to promote Myers, instead letting him get a little more seasoning in the Minors, but it's a scenario to watch.

Lowe expressed a desire to return to Boston. Maybe we can trade Lowe to Boston for Tazawa if he clears waivers and if Boston is even remotely interested. I really dislike the idea of releasing players and getting nothing in return. Anything is better than nothing in most cases. I've got to believe there is at least one team out there that would be willing to take on Lowe for a stretch run.

Somebody remind me of the DFA rules. If fully waived, isn't traded, and refuses assignment, does that mean he becomes a FA but forfeits the balance of his salary? Or does that mean the only choice is to release him and eat the salary?

Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed. After designating a player for assignment, the club must either:[1]

(a) return the player to the 40-man roster within 10 days from the date of designation, or
(b) make one of the following contractual moves:

Place the player on waivers (which can only be done within the first 7 days of the 10-day period)
Trade the player
Release the player

Contents [hide]
1 Contractual moves
1.1 Place the player on waivers
1.2 Trade the player
1.3 Release the player
2 See also
3 References


Contractual moves:

Place the player on waiversTypically a player is placed on waivers after being designated for assignment for the purpose of outrighting him to one of the club's minor league teams. A player who is outrighted to the minors is removed from the 40-man roster but is still paid according to the terms of his guaranteed contract. A player can only be outrighted once in his career without his consent. However, a player must clear waivers (that is, no other team may place a waiver claim on the player) to be sent to a minor league team. Also, if the player has five or more full years of major league service, he must give consent to be assigned to the minors. If the player withholds consent, the team must either release him or keep him on the major league roster. In either case, the player must continue to be paid under the terms of his contract.

Trade the player

Once a player is designated for assignment, he may be traded. Some teams have been known to designate players for assignment to increase interest in the player, especially among teams that are not at the top of the list for waivers. For example, in May 2006, Rangers reliever Brian Shouse was designated for assignment, and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers four days later. The Brewers could have waited until Shouse was placed on waivers so they would not have had to give up a player in a trade, but according to the waiver rules, the other 13 AL teams would have preference in claiming him. Also, under the "ten-and-five rule," if a player has ten years of Major League service, the last five with his current team, he cannot be traded without his consent.

Release the player

If a player is not traded, and clears waivers, he may be released from the team. The player is then a free agent and may sign with any team, including the team that just released him. The team that releases him is responsible for the salary the player is owed, less what he is paid by the team that signs him. In practice, that amount is usually a pro-rated portion of the Major League minimum salary.

Thanks.

You won't find much on Rottino in Minor Matters. I have not bothered posting his game highlights, since I limit my interest to the under 30 year olds in the minors. He has hit over 300, some power, stole some bases. I honestly don't think the Indians have any interest in the younger position players in Columbus, or they would give some of them big league exposure.

The Indians have a history of allowing organizational minor league guys a few days in the majors before releasing them. This seems like another situation like that.

Personally I would like to see a Vinnie Pestano pitching to Vinny Rottino combo.

ITALIAN a BASEBOOL!!!

Rusty, you're thinking of guys like Jared Head, Niuman Romero, Garland Kiser. I always root for those guys to get a few days in the show so they tell their grandkids about it some day.

BTW, Niuman Romero was back in AA the last I noticed and believe it or not so is Josh Barfield.

Wow I'd already forgotten about Josh Barfield ...

...

Wait, how long ago was that?

And how come I can't forget about Trot Nixon and David Delucci and Mike Rouse?

Just think of all the number 1 picks that are no longer with the Tribe.

That wasn't even funny Lou! We must hold some kind of record for drafting futility.

Johnny Damon designated for assignment. Ezequiel Carrera called up.