Waiver deadline primer
Don't want to insult anyone's baseball knowledge -- or Orioles IQ -- but there are probably a few fans out there who don't know why today's 4 p.m. (EDT) waiver deadline is so important.
The July deadline is in place to regulate how teams deal with each other during the final months of the season and maintain some semblance of competitive balance as the playoff races move through August and September.
So, after today, teams must pass players through waivers before trading them. That way, a strong team like the Yankees does not have unfettered ability to acquire players at any time to help it down the stretch because the teams behind it in the standings have the option of claiming those players off waivers first.
That doesn't mean trades can't be made after 4 p.m. today. It just is more difficult to get them done. After the deadline, the next deadline of any note is Aug. 31, which is the deadline for a player to be traded and still be eligible to appear in the postseason for his new team.
The Orioles probably aren't as vulnerable to the waiver deadline as some other teams because veteran players with big contracts are more likely to get through waivers without getting claimed. Aubrey Huff, for instance, will likely be put on waivers in August and pass through with flying colors because a team that claims him has to pick up his entire contract. Same goes for Jay Payton, Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford.
The big exception is closer George Sherrill, whose low salary and service time would make him attractive to just about any contending team. Heck, you could claim him and probably afford to pick up his contract.
That's why Sherrill is the key guy today if the Orioles are to get anything done.
Comments
No Peter the reason why Sherrill is the key guy is because he is the only one worth enough to make a real difference in the makeup of the team.
The best they could do with the other players is a deal like AM got for Trax last year, which provided some organizational depth but no real help for the big league club.
Posted by: Jeff V. | July 31, 2008 9:55 AM
I can not believe of all teams, we are gonna stand pat. WTH? You mean there are not a few teams out there with just a couple decent infield prospects? I hear the Twins want Roberts, they do not have any decent ss,3rd, or 2nd prospects worth trying to get. A SP?
Posted by: Ryan | July 31, 2008 10:26 AM
keep weiters in AA, let him develop chemistry with the pitchers and other teammates he'll be playing with in the bigs SOON.
Posted by: bms | July 31, 2008 10:39 AM
If some of these trades actually occur, who will be brought up to take these players spots. I know Montonez and maybe Reimold could come up and fill in for payton and huff, but what minor league help do we have to replace bradford, or walker. i doubt we will get any major league help in return for those players. Also, when we need to bring up a fifth starter, who is going to go down. If we demote burress we will be one short in the bullpen??
Posted by: Steve-I | July 31, 2008 10:49 AM
Jeff V - You would trade Aubrey Huff for Rocky Cherry, Scott Moore, and Jake Renshaw?
Huff is 5th in the league in homeruns and RBI. Third in doubles. Batting avg. of .302. Check out his numbers against division leaders Tampa Bay, Boston, and New York . . . . they are staggering. If I am a GM and I need to beat one of those teams to get in the playoffs or I may face them in the playoffs(see Angels), I would deal for Huff now. He's also relatively cheap compared to Manny Ramirez and Ken Griffey Jr.
I'm not advocating that we trade Aubrey. I think he would look good in our lineup next year and maybe beyond, but to say that no one else has trade value is selling Huff short. Granted MacPhail would need to be somewhat overwhelmed, but what would it take?
Posted by: Ray | July 31, 2008 10:58 AM
Could you explain why the Deadline is at 4 pm? I remember when it used to be midnight. Why did it change?
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Shawn, I think it's just a courtesy to the national media (mostly ESPN). The midnight deadlines made it hard to plan late-night programming. The print journalists like it, too, because we had to sweat out our own deadlines that night. Since the deadline is arbitrary to some degree, why not make it convenient so the fans and media don't have to stay up all night to find out what happens. pete
Posted by: Shawn | July 31, 2008 11:00 AM
Huff
BA .302
HR 22
RBI 72
Slg .554
Why did we hear nothing of trade rumors about him? It's mystifying! He should have been at the top of every list. He can play first ,third , and a slow outfield. His numbers are unreal - and yet there is no talk.
Posted by: twa | July 31, 2008 11:04 AM
Ray and twa- you both made very GOOD points about Huff . The media ( especially ESPN ) were kneeling , worshipping , drooling about sluggers Buc's Jason Bay and Seattle's Raul Ibanez like they were Babe Ruth or Willie Mays . Oh please !
three questions 1) are they both better than Huff?
2) are they 2 month 'rentals' or they under contract next season?
3) what is MacPhail's price for Huff? is it higher price than what it takes to secure Bay or Ibanez? ( heard they both require 'major league ready' prospects)
Also , any Major league team who thinks $ 9 million salary for .302 , 22 ,72 , .554 slugger is too high is living in the past . Can someone tell us why no interest in Huff?
Posted by: Allan | July 31, 2008 12:03 PM
Ray, I do not think other teams will give more then that for Huff. Huff is
1-Expensive
2-Subpar at every defensive position
3-Signed through next year
There is a reason there has been zero buzz concerning suitors for Huff, the same reason why he signed with Baltimore instead of other teams to begin with.
And no I would not make that trade, I would keep him through next year, of course I am not the one paying his salary.
Posted by: Jeff V. | July 31, 2008 12:22 PM
Peter,
Please explain the rationale of waivers. Why put someone on waivers- if you don't want to trade him?
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Jake, teams send players through waivers (which can be revoked if someone is claimed the first time through, but not the second time) to keep their options open. GMs love to have maximum flexibility in case of an injury or some other unforeseen circumstance. I'll try to expand on this in a future post. pete
Posted by: jake | July 31, 2008 12:27 PM
Peter,
Please explain the rationale of waivers. Why put someone on waivers- if you don't want to trade him?
Posted by: jake | July 31, 2008 12:27 PM
I think Huffs issue is mostly money. But somehow $9.5 million over like a year and 1/3 is 'too expensive'. Odd to me when guys making $14+ mil are doing a lot worse then him fit right in a lot of budgets.
Or it might be that Huff is not a good defensive player. But that too makes no sense. Always a lot of other bad defenders out there. Look at M.Cabrera, M.Ramirez and D.Jeter to name a few.
P.S. Thanks for the answer!
Posted by: Shawn | July 31, 2008 12:28 PM
Four things on Huff. One is that other teams think he's having a fluke year.Two is they'd have to eat his 8 mill next year. Third he's a lefty and RH hitters are in demand.Fourth is he's a 1st base/DH poitions contending teams are already OK at.NL his opitions are even less.
Posted by: John | July 31, 2008 2:06 PM
Hey Pete, what's with all the fat jokes over the years? You don't look THAT bad in your full-length picture. In fact, you look a lot better than Ramon Hernandez ever could in that shirt and slacks. Very nice!!
Posted by: duke of york | July 31, 2008 3:08 PM
Hey Pete, what's with all the fat jokes over the years? You don't look THAT bad in your full-length picture. In fact, you look a lot better than Ramon Hernandez ever could in that shirt and slacks. Very nice!!
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Duke, you should know by now that the camera takes 40 pounds off you. pete
Posted by: duke of york | July 31, 2008 4:58 PM
Hey Schmucker:
Are you going to provide some real time reporting during Oriole games like Roch used to do, or if not, will that be done on some other Sunpapers blog? It was both informative, and particularly helpful for the out of town fan.
Also, can you bring us up to date on why the Ponson arbitration case against the Orioles has never been addressed or resolved? In over a year and a half of asking, could never get an answer from Roch.
Posted by: Deke | August 2, 2008 8:36 AM