Waiver wire targets?

[kingofdetroit57]

I just read that Cliff Lee was put on waivers and think he'd be a fantastic target for us if passes through and we could work out a trade. Anybody else you think could/should be a target? The other one that immediately jumps to my mind would be David Ortiz. I could see the Red Sox putting him on waivers and him passing through, and he'd be a perfect fit for us with VMart likely out for the year now.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

If Lee was really put on waivers, we should just put in a claim. Force Philly to deal with us or keep him (either is preferable to seeing Texas/LAA/NY/Boston trying to get him). He's owed a lot of money, but he's actually worth it.

I thought the way waivers work is that any player put on them can simply be claimed, with the final claim awarded to the team with the worst record (of the teams that put in a claim). The Phillies could then negotiate a trade with that team, keep Lee, or just give his contract away. If he's really been put on waivers, we should put in a claim, not wait for him to clear and subsequently be traded somewhere we don't want him.

Obviously the financial impact would be significant, but not untenable. We just dropped tons on Fielder, and claim to be all in. Well, claiming Lee would be a real all-in move. Either we get ourselves another Ace, or we keep him from joining another playoff team.

 

[spockmaster]

the problem with trying to claim NL players is that the entire NL gets a shot before even the worst Al team does (unless they changed it recently or im crazy).

 

[Thumb]

We don't have enough to offer the Philthys in a waiver trade without Castallanos, and that's assuming Lee makes it past Baltimore and any other playoff contenders ahead of us on the claim picks.

Would Lee be a good fit? absolutely, left handed power arm with a sick curveball, but I think he would just cost too much.

I think we're better off targeting a RH-power bat (No Ortiz) that's likely to clear waivers.

 

[Thumb]

the problem with trying to claim NL players is that the entire NL gets a shot before even the worst Al team does (unless they changed it recently or im crazy).

I think waiver claims are universal, the orders are already set, if a team makes a claim, they go to the back of the line. [this is after they have cleared waivers]

You're right that the first 3 days only the teams in a players league my put a claim in on him, after he clears it becomes universal.

 

[Thumb]

If Lee was really put on waivers, we should just put in a claim. Force Philly to deal with us or keep him (either is preferable to seeing Texas/LAA/NY/Boston trying to get him). He's owed a lot of money, but he's actually worth it.

I thought the way waivers work is that any player put on them can simply be claimed, with the final claim awarded to the team with the worst record (of the teams that put in a claim). The Phillies could then negotiate a trade with that team, keep Lee, or just give his contract away. If he's really been put on waivers, we should put in a claim, not wait for him to clear and subsequently be traded somewhere we don't want him.

Obviously the financial impact would be significant, but not untenable. We just dropped tons on Fielder, and claim to be all in. Well, claiming Lee would be a real all-in move. Either we get ourselves another Ace, or we keep him from joining another playoff team.

The problem with doing what you're saying, putting a claim in on him so it blocks anyone else, is that it then screws us from actually making a waiver trade on someone we want, or need. Which when it comes down to it is not pitching, but hitting.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

On Lee, I think we could flip one or two of Porcello/Smyly/Scherzer their way and take on most of the salary and they'd probably bite. Lee is owed tons and they just invested heavily in Hamels as their future ace.

As far as Ortiz goes, the Red Sox are looking to dump salary and Ortiz is unsigned next season. He might be had for salary alone for the rest of the year. It honestly doesn't matter one bit which side of the plate he bats from, he can flat out hit.

 

[Mitchrapp]

The problem with doing what you're saying, putting a claim in on him so it blocks anyone else, is that it then screws us from actually making a waiver trade on someone we want, or need. Which when it comes down to it is not pitching, but hitting.

I'm pretty sure you can make more than one claim. Of course you'd have to wait for everyone to have another chance.

 

[Thumb]

I'm pretty sure you can make more than one claim. Of course you'd have to wait for everyone to have another chance.

Yes, but as soon as you do you drop to the back of the list.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yes, but as soon as you do you drop to the back of the list.

Yep. though I'm sure they would put there first priority uhm, well - first :nod:

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

The thing about claiming Lee, IMO, is that him NOT playing for one of our rivals could be just as useful as him playing for us. Sure, a team with a worse record may beat us to the claim, but who cares, that can happen whether we make a claim or not. The point is to not let him clear waivers in the first place so Philly can't just trade him wherever they want. If a player doesn't clear waivers, he's forced to stay with his current team the rest of the year.

Assuming we win the waiver, we can still balk at trading Castellanos. Philly can take another deal or not, but it would still keep Lee from playing for anyone but us or Philly.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I'm all for claiming guys even if you have no interest in said player. Blocking is part of the game.

 

[Thumb]

I'm all for claiming guys even if you have no interest in said player. Blocking is part of the game.

I am too, except in this case we HAVE to get someone. And IMHO it has to be a RH hitter who produces, or if no RH hitters are good choices any hitter at all.

Worrying about where someone else finishes the race won't make any difference if we aren't in it.

 

[sggatecl]

Jeff Francouer? RH bat and after KC unloaded their closer, he might be there.

 

[cmlfactor]

Jeff Francouer? RH bat and after KC unloaded their closer, he might be there.

One of the best arms in the outfield and decent power. Wouldn't be a bad move.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

I am too, except in this case we HAVE to get someone. And IMHO it has to be a RH hitter who produces, or if no RH hitters are good choices any hitter at all.

Worrying about where someone else finishes the race won't make any difference if we aren't in it.

I'm mostly in agreement with the exception of wanting the biggest upgrade we can get. If it's an ace like Lee, great. If it's a lefty DH like Big Papi, great. Doesn't really matter to me where we end up upgrading since we've got room to do so everywhere. If it makes us better and keeps them off the teams we're competing against, I'm all for it.

 

[cmlfactor]

Not a right-handed hitter but Scott Podsednik was released by the Diamondbacks. Apparently they signed him to a minor league deal and he refused to report to his assignment. But anyways, good OBP guy with decent speed.

 

[spockmaster]

One of the best arms in the outfield and decent power. Wouldn't be a bad move.

it would be an AWFUL move. his WAR this year for the Royals is -1.7. even boesch isnt that low (-1.3). his line is .238/.275/.366/.642, with a .272 wOBA and 66 wRC+. he has a good arm, but overall his defense has been awful this year with a -8.5 UZR in almost 900 innings in the OF. trading for francouer would be one of the worst moves we could make, he's one of the few players who would actually be a downgrade from young and boesch. if DD trades for him, he should be fired immediately.

 

[spockmaster]

Not a right-handed hitter but Scott Podsednik was released by the Diamondbacks. Apparently they signed him to a minor league deal and he refused to report to his assignment. But anyways, good OBP guy with decent speed.

he's been with 5 or 6 different teams in the last few years, has only played 19 games in the majors since his last full season in 2010, and is 36. he's average at best on offense, bad in the field, and gets caught stealing too much. pass. the fact that so many teams have passed on him lately should tell us how little value he would actually add. we already have a player like podsednik in berry, and berry is the better player right now.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

he's been with 5 or 6 different teams in the last few years, has only played 19 games in the majors since his last full season in 2010, and is 36. he's average at best on offense, bad in the field, and gets caught stealing too much. pass. the fact that so many teams have passed on him lately should tell us how little value he would actually add. we already have a player like podsednik in berry, and berry is the better player right now.

Hasn't he also been having back issues or am I confusing him with somebody else?