How waivers work
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 05, 2008 
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Now that the Yankees are looking for a starter, it seems like a good time to review how waiver trades in August work.
This information via Padres exec Paul DePodesta, who has his own blog:
* No player can get traded after July 31 without being placed on trade waivers. Unlike outright waivers, August trade waivers are revocable. If a team places a player on trade waivers, and another organization places a claim on that player, he can be taken off waivers.
* Once a player is placed on trade waivers, the other 29 organizations have 48 hours during which to place a claim. If a player is claimed by another organization, one of two things can happen:
1. The player can be traded to (or simply given to) the claiming organization only.
or
2. The player can be pulled off of waivers by the originating club. Any trade with the claiming club has to be consummated within 48 hours.
* If a player is claimed on trade waivers, and the originating club pulls that player off of waivers, he connot be traded for the remainder of the season unless the originating club puts the player on trade waivers a second time. If they do this, however, the waivers become irrevocable so any claim would result in the automatic assignment of the player to the claiming team.
* If a player goes unclaimed, he can be traded to any other team at any time.
I hope that clears up any questions you have. It was once common practice for competing teams to claim all players to block trades. Then some teams got stuck with players they didn’t want (like the Yankees with Jose Canseco in 2000) and that process slowed.
Be careful about getting too excited about hearing a certain player is on waivers. Teams routinely try and get one player through by putting the entire roster on waivers over a period of days
Isn’t there some kind of order in which the teams are ranked, so if two or more teams claim a player, the higher ranked team gets him? I don’t think it’s just who hits the “Claim!” button on their computer more quickly. (Or it that is the case, then being a real GM is a lot more like being a fantasy one than any of them care to admit.)
No to Washburn. Let the kids finish out the season.
(Obviously, that’s “Or if that is the case…” Please, Dear Word Press, give me either an Edit button or the patience to proofread.)
If the M’s put Batista or Silva on waivers, should we bite?
Pete is the Canseco trade theopne that Cashman was referring to the other day when he talked about he getting burned but another GM really getting burned??
Yes, please explain the ranking. I thought if an AL team puts someone on waivers, all the AL teams have a chance before any NL teams. Is this correct?
Does a player with a no-trade clause have to waive that before getting traded on waivers. Say the Yanks claim Washburn and Seattle opts to let him go. Does Washburn need to approve that?
If a player is claimed by a team and traded (or makes it through waivers and is then traded), do all of the other players involved in the trade also have to pass through waivers?
“Be careful about getting too excited about hearing a certain player is on waivers. Teams routinely try and get one player through by putting the entire roster on waivers over a period of days”
Despite this warning, people on here would still freak out if they saw “Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Carl Pavano have been placed on waivers.”
Ok, maybe not the Carl Pavano part……
Preparing myself for the worst:
The season is over.
Joba’s injury is career ending.
Mo and Pettitte will get hurt and be out for the season as well.
Red Sox wins World Series this year.
Nothing can disappoint me now.
Bret
I think giving the kids a chance is a good idea. But if the opportunity comes up to get a good deal on a decent arm then you can’t pass that opportunity up especially if Joba’s injury is somewhat serious. But like Pete said the of the the Canseco situation we have to be careful.
Pete,
Couple beefs with the ads. First of all, the one with the autoplay prevents you from navigating at times.
Second of all, I encourage all of you to support Reyn’s because they’re an old-time kama’aina company. But they need to get rid of the Red Sox aloha shirt banner ad on a Yankees blog. Ack.
Okay, did a quick search of their site and found the Yankees aloha shirt.
http://www.reyns.com/SC101_Ser.....emNum=2348
To answer all your questions, here is another explanation of waiver trades that also includes explanation of the scenario where more than one team claim the player:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....de-ru.html
Oops, didn’t realize that your paper might get paid for clicks.
If you guys want the Yankee shirt, click the banner ad and do a search for “Yankees”.
Be careful about getting too excited about hearing a certain player is on waivers. Teams routinely try and get one player through by putting the entire roster on waivers over a period of days
I understand why teams put tons of players on waivers, but I don’t get how it would actually fool a team.
For example..Say the Yankees put Rasner, Bruney, and Melky all on waivers (Just for the sake of argument. This wouldn’t really happen). If another team wants to put a claim in on Rasner, why does it matter that Bruney and Melky were also put on? I doubt rival GMs say “CURRRRSES!! THWARTED AGAIN!” when this happens.
Anyone care to explain to me?
I love how people say give the kids a chance.We did and all but Joba did horrible and all of them are now hurt.
Give kids a chance but you can’t risk the last year at the greatest stadium in the world to close without making the playoffs.
And if you think Hughhes is gonna start next season in the rotatin you crazy.
“No to Washburn. Let the kids finish out the season.”
Why do some of you want to watch minor league baseball on YES so badly?
We’re still in a race here. 5 out of first and 2 or 3 games out of the WC. Giving up is not an option.
And if you think Hughhes is gonna start next season in the rotatin you crazy.
So if Hughes is brought up this season and does remarkably well after having earned the opportunity to come back…you think it would be “crazy” for the Yankees to pencil him into the starting rotation again next year? I understand everyone thinks the Yankees are going to sign Sabathia, and that Wang/Pettitte/Mussina/ will all be back and 100% healthy (Wang), but you never know what will happen. Say Mussina goes somewhere else..you’re now down to
Sabathia
Wang
Joba
Pettitte
That’s a very strong 4-man rotation, but it’s a rotation with 2 question marks (Sabathia/Pettitte). Why would it be UNTHINKABLE for Hughes to be slotted into the 5th spot?
I know we can’t post full articles, but Will Carroll at BP says “early word” is that the muscle tightened due to a combination of heat and fatigue.
Still amazes me how many people threw all of Hughes’ value out the window because of a couple bad weeks, some or all of which, he was playing with an injury…
MoBoy, do you have any actual reason to say Hughes isn’t going to start next season in the rotation? Or is that just more of the same?
“few” bad weeks, not couple…
Why do some of you want to watch minor league baseball on YES so badly?
We’re still in a race here. 5 out of first and 2 or 3 games out of the WC. Giving up is not an option.
I don’t think he was admitting defeat there. He wants the Yankees to just slot Kennedy and Hughes back into the rotation and hope that they pitch well. For Kennedy, it would mean continuing what he’s done the past month or so, and for Hughes, it means to continue rehabbing and come back strong. I would give Hughes/Kennedy the rotation spot over Geise/Rasner/Ponson anyday. The worst they can do is lose their spot…just like Rasner has done, and just as Ponson is close to doing.
I wonder if both Pettite and Mussina are asked back…I think The Moose moves on….
I don’t know if you realize but young kids learn in the majors and not in the minors. I think Hughes deserves a another shot it based on what did in the stretch run last season. I think his control issues in the beginning of the season had a lot to do with the rib injury.
“Isn’t there some kind of order in which the teams are ranked, so if two or more teams claim a player, the higher ranked team gets him? I don’t think it’s just who hits the “Claim!†button on their computer more quickly. ”
I also have always wondered about waiver priority and if it is the same as in fantasy sports. If there is an order, how is it determined, by team record?
About the last post;
does he know who attacked him? or he just sues the yankees?
No link to DePodesta’s blog?
Well, here it is: http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/
I just was on there for a few minutes, but it seems pretty good, albeit Padres focused (duh).
I wonder how you would feel if people used your work and didn’t link to it (I know, you cited it, but still I thought this was common practice on the net)
I know we can’t post full articles, but Will Carroll at BP says “early word†is that the muscle tightened due to a combination of heat and fatigue.
I hope you’re right. If that’s all, the Yankees dodged a giant atom-bomb-looking bullet.
Although i’m just as scared as everyone else is about Joba’s injury, I thought it was a good sign that he said it didn’t affect his velocity. If he can still throw 95 effortlessly, that’s a good sign compared to him barely being able to get the ball across the plate.
No no you guys have it all wrong, now everyone wants Chase Wright to be in the rotation over Kennedy, Giese and Rasner. Tomorrow it will probably be Kontos making the jump from AA. Apparently the fact that it took the organization 5 months to promote him to AAA means he’s on the fast track to the bigs, as evidenced by his two good starts for Scranton since his call-up. Because two AAA starts means he’s ready.
Brent:
Because he barely gonna have 60 innings this year.He will need to start in the minors or bullpen like Joba this year so he doesn’t go pass he’s innings limit which he will need.
Unlike Nick in SF you can’t just throw young pitchers to anchor this rotation out of desperation.
Hughes will be in the rotation next year.But not to start the season.He needs more work he’s arm strength.
“The season is over.
Joba’s injury is career ending.
Mo and Pettitte will get hurt and be out for the season as well.
Red Sox wins World Series this year.”
I think I could deal with every single one of those, other than #2, just fine. I cannot begin to tell you how devasted #2 would make me feel.
My calf cramps up when I work out sometimes. It’s a gradual thing, just like Joba last night. It’s grabs, pops, pulls, the whole thing. I don’t really lose anything when I run. It just hurts. I was talking a trainer this morning who said it’s probably about form and nothing muscular, unless I continue to do the same thing. I’m trying my damndest to remind myself that Joba Chamberlain and I are made of the same skin and bones.
EXPECT GREAT NEWS ABOUT JOBA TONIGHT !!!
http://www.rotowire.com/roto_t.....;sport=mlb
“I’m optimistic, with the way they stretched and pushed and pulled and did whatever they do as trainers,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a little stiff, but that’s why I’m going back — to rule everything out.” While his own assessment is very encouraging, we’ll await the official word here before declaring that the Yankees have avoided a major scare.
.
Whew !
Hughes will start next season in the rotation. And if that’s not absolutely clear from everything Brian Cashman has done over the last several year, I don’t know how to help you.
Will Carroll the genius everybody, please everyone and thier mother can tell it wasn’t heat or fatigue he landed on it while not getting out of the way of a throw to 2B ..none of this has to do w/ fatigue or heat. Even Cone could see that.
Mets to make run at Garcia
Posted: Tuesday August 05, 2008 08:30AM ET
Beset by pitching injuries, the Mets are expected to be in the running for veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia if the two-time All-Star holds up well this afternoon in an open workout in Miami. Several teams are scheduled to scout the workout at the University of Miami, including the Mets, as Garcia tries to work his way back to the majors after shoulder surgery. Garcia, who is 6-2 in nine postseason starts, made 11 regular-season starts with the Phillies last year before being shut down. “Freddy is doing great on his rehab,” agent Ed Greenberg said yesterday.
New York Post
if you grew up with holes in you zapatos youd celebrate the minute you was having dough.
As I stated last night, he’ll be fine…Extreme precautionary reaction…..
Either way, this is a big off-season for us.
We have to go into next year with a top notch rotation where every starter we throw out there gives us a legit shot to win.
The bullpen is fine, and will be even better with Melancon next year. Guys like Edwar, Bruney, Veras, Robertson are all in their mid 20′s. Giese is the pefect long man. If he fails, we can always use Rasner in that role. Ironically, Marte may be our weakest link.
The Mussina/Pettitte return next year should rely on how many innings Hughes/Joba can throw. If they are both around 150, then we cannot keep the both of them at the same time. If Joba can throw 180 and Hughes can throw 150, then it will be better. If they can’t meet those numbers, then we need to bring back Mussina AND Andy.
if Will is right about muscle fatigue, that is the best news we can get. Usually, when a pitcher’s velocity is not effected, the injury is not related to the rotator cuff. I think i read that chamberlain was quoted as saying his velocity didnt change.
MoBoy, you are forgetting about winter ball or the Arizona Fall League, somewhere I’d imagine that Hughes will end up. That will deal with his need to throw more innings, build up arm strength, etc. etc. If Hughes is pitching well in Spring Training ’09, he’ll be in the rotation–he has the ability, the organization is in love with him, and honestly he earned his spot coming in to this year (more then, I would say, Kennedy did) when you factor in the ever-dreaded 2007 performance that people here love to say “doesn’t matter”.
Hughes has nothing left to learn in the minors. He and the team already knows he can get major league hitters out. The only reason for him to ever been in the minors again is for rehab unless something goes wrong with his mechanics that can’t be fixed in side sessions.
“I think i read that chamberlain was quoted as saying his velocity didnt change.”
He said that in the post game interviews last night. Reiterated it several times as the reason he wasn’t concerned that it would be anything major.
I trust Will Carroll more than I trust a guy who feels the need to count Derek Jeter’s GIDP count and feels he can make predictions ten years into the future in his screenname on every post. Call me crazy.
Hughes has armn strength right now. He was also one of the best pitchers in ST.
Don’t worry about Hughes. He’ll be there. He’s part of the Yankees plan. They could’ve had Johan Freaking Santana.
From will Carroll’s piece on Joba,
“…The early word is that his muscle tightened up due to a combination of the blistering heat (I sat in that heat the night before, and yeah, it’s a huge factor) and fatigue. It’s the latter that’s most worrisome given Chamberlain’s switch of roles. While he built up his arm strength, no one has any idea how the fatigue will be affected by the shape of his season. He’s headed back to New York for tests, so we’ll know more soon, but early reports and sources tell me that things look relatively positive, based both on the pain’s location, and on his reaction. Expect the Yanks to be ultra-conservative, and for Chamberlain to miss a start at least. We’ll know more after the images, but I’ll leave the DXL as a TBD for now.”
I agree that Hughes will get there. It’s up to the Yankees whether they want him helping them, or they want to be facing him, when he gets there. I prefer the former.
My trainer and I were comparing Hughes and Buchholz today (wound up with a Sox fan as a trainer…what can i say?) everything we hear about Hughes, they hear about Buchholz, yet we think Buchholz is the guaranteed success and Hughes isn’t.
Hughes has nothing to learn yes.But how can you put a kid who last year only had 72 innings and only has 22 innings this year so far.How can pitch in the majors the whole year next yar.
Whats he’s innings limit next year….80.
I trust Will Carroll more than I trust a guy who feels the need to count Derek Jeter’s GIDP count and feels he can make predictions ten years into the future in his screenname on every post. Call me crazy.
I ask myself how Will knows this before the Yankees do…not saying he’s wrong but the picture he paints is incomplete, I want official word.
This is a huge offseason for sure and Cashman must go ALL-OUT and aggressively pursue front-end pitchers like Sabathia and Sheets. Pitchers of that caliber simply don’t reach the open market these days. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Brewers use their negotiating window with Sheets to retain him. Cashman entered 2008 short on pitching so I pray he seriously prepares for the worst in 2009 by stockpiling starters. I would love to have the luxury of keeping Hughes and Kennedy in AAA until the inevitable injury to one of the five starters. I would want a rotation of Sabathia, Sheets, Wang, Chamberlain and Pettitte. If they all stay healthy and the staff gets overly crowded then that is the best problem a GM can possibly have.
“I ask myself how Will knows this before the Yankees do…not saying he’s wrong but the picture he paints is incomplete, I want official word.”
Shouldn’t have singled you out like that in retrospect. You’re one of the better ones on here. I must control the snark sometimes. My apologies. Lay off the captain, though. He doesn’t deserve it.
I’m willing to believe heat & fatigue before I believe it was the spill, though, due to Joba’s report that he just didn’t believe that was it and it really being impossible to ignore the elements present last night. I’m no athlete, but I absolutely suffer gradual cramps and stiffness like he described due to fatigue and the elements. It rings more true to me.
then again, you can feel free to trust Will Carroll than someone with a smartass screenname like mine.
Pete-
Correct me if I’m wrong. These are some answers to questions asked about August waivers.
Let’s say Greg Maddux is put on waivers. Anyone can put a claim on him but the NL worst team that claims him gets the opportunity 1st to trade for him, unless the Padres pull him back, in which case he can’t be put on waivers for another 30 days. If he clears waivers the Padres are free to deal with anyone, but all 40 players on teams lists have to go thru waivers, so you will probably get back non-40 list roster players.
7 players a day per team X 30 teams = possible 210 players on waivers each day faxed to the GM’s. That’s a lot to weed thru, and that’s how some get thru unnoticed, therefore eligible to be traded to any team.
This year looking at the AL starters likely to be put on waivers like Carlos Silva, I wouldn’t see him being claimed because Seattle would likely just let the claiming team have him to take on his remaining contract.
Therefore suggestions who is most ready now to pitch:
Kennedy
Melancon in bullpen
Igawa-no
Chase Wright-lightemup
Next in line:
Hughes
Pavano
I don’t know how ready these are:
Milton
Zambrano[Victor not Carlos]
Garcia
Any info out there?
And doesn’t Rasner have a blister on one of his fingers on his pitching hand?
“zapatos”
Spanish has such cooler, more fun words than English…
“Hughes has nothing to learn yes.But how can you put a kid who last year only had 72 innings and only has 22 innings this year so far.How can pitch in the majors the whole year next yar.
Whats he’s innings limit next year….80″
You’re right about his being on an innings limit, but how would putting him in AAA limit his innings differently than in the majors? They’ll come up with a plan for him just like the did for Joba. You also have to realize his innings the previous year were higher. It’s not only about his last year, but past years as well. I don’t know exactly what that means in terms of what his innings limit will be for next year. But I do know he is a MLB pitcher. He’s past the point of needing to be in AAA to limit his innings.
You’re also forgetting about his minor league innings last year. He pitched 28.2 down there, so about 100 total.
Sorry, make that 37 innings in the minors last year, 110 total, and he had pitched 146 in 2006.
I think his innings limit this year was somewhere around 160, wasn’t it? so they were taking into account the 146 he had thrown in 2006.
Yankees sign Sabathia AND Sheets!! Both likely to get close to same dollars/year, but Sabathia will get a 7 year contract, and Sheets more likely for 5, although some team will be suckered into throwing more out there.
My “hunch” is that Sabathia will want to stay in the NL, and if the West Coast is really his desire, then it could be the Dodgers, who have a lot on money coming off the books, and which have a desirable pitcher’s park.
I’m not for resigning Mussina or Pettitte until we see how well they pitch the rest of the year. Maybe Mussina at age 40 will want a “Clemens type deal,” where he stays home with his family and comes back in June to pitch 1/2 season!
Feel free to shoot the messenger! NOT!!!
So, if Texas and the Yankees decided to swap A-Rod for Hamilton, any team, even with no possible trade material, could stop it?