As you already know, almost every single MLB player gets placed on waivers at this time of year.
(If you didn’t know, check out this handy explainer by Sportsnet’s Mike Wilner).
It’s a formality for the most part, but a player clearing waivers does open the door for a potential deal.
With some superstar names poised to enter the waiver wire, we’ve decided to keep a running tab of some of the bigger names who’ll immediately pique interest.
MLB home run leader Stanton clears waivers
Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton cleared waivers this past Sunday, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Stanton, who has 43 home runs this year, is one of MLB’s premier sluggers. The 27-year-old is currently in the third season of a 13-year, $325-million contract. Beginning in 2018, Stanton will be owed $295 million.
The Marlins, who will soon be sold to a new ownership group led by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter, are free to trade Stanton to any team through the end of August. Passan reports at least four teams have inquired about the right-fielder and talks with one club prior to the July 31 trade deadline progressed to the point where names in a possible package were exchanged.
“Anyone who knows anything knows you sell high on him,” said one source about Stanton trade talks, according to Passan. “You can relieve yourself of that burden.”
Acquiring Stanton this season would offer a massive boom to any team. He’s been on a tear since the all-star break and is batting .381/.435/1.143 with 10 homers and 19 RBI over his past 11 games.
Marco Estrada claimed by mystery team
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada was claimed on revocable waivers by an unknown team, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
The Blue Jays now face a decision on the impending free agent. Toronto can trade him to the mystery team, allow the team to assume Estrada’s contract, or pull him off waivers entirely.
Read the full story here.
Veteran 2B Phillips clears waivers
Atlanta Braves second baseman Brandon Phillips has cleared waivers, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
The Braves have spoken to some teams about the 36-year-old impending free agent, according to Heyman. An acquiring team would only be on the hook for roughly $300,000 of his salary. Phillips is making $14 million this season, with his former club, the Cincinnati Reds, paying most of that.
Phillips, who began his career with the Cleveland Indians before spending 11 seasons with the Reds, is hitting .285/.325/.418 with eight home runs and 41 RBI in 102 games this year, his first with the Braves.
The Rays are among the teams that could be a fit for Phillips, notes Heyman.
Kinsler waived, Brewers have interest
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler is on waivers.
The 35-year-old is having a down season, carrying a .245/.324/.388 slash line into Wednesday’s action, and is owed $3 million for the rest of the season.
Rosenthal continues to report that the Milwaukee Brewers are interested in the four-time all-star, but that Kinsler has the Brewers on his 10-team no-trade list.
The 2016 AL Gold Glove winner’s contract includes a team option for 2018 at $10 million or a $5-million buyout.
Bryce Harper and Joey Votto
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Cincinatti Reds first baseman Joey Votto are among several superstar players to clear waivers on Sunday, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Heyman notes that Harper clearing waivers is more of a “procedural” move, as rival teams didn’t claim him because they knew the Nationals would have pulled him back anyway.
While Votto is now eligible to be traded, it remains highly unlikely it would happen. Votto has a full no-trade clause and is guaranteed about $164 million through 2023, including a $7 million buyout on a $20-million option for 2024.
Heyman adds that the Reds have shown zero known interest in trading the Canadian since the Blue Jays inquired about him a couple years ago.
Chris Davis, Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, Felix Hernandez and Brandon Crawford all cleared waivers as well.
Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson
Outfield tandem Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson of the New York Mets have cleared waivers, Rosenthal.
The duo has been surrounded by trade rumours for quite some time now and with the Mets out of the playoff race it’s time to revisit that notion.
Granderson, 36, is in the final year of his contract in New York. The left-handed hitting former lead off man has seen his OPS decline over each of the last two seasons and that trend has continued this year. The three-time all-star currently owns a career low .223 batting average.
Bruce is also a free agent after this season, but a trade for the power-hitter might not come as easily. The 30-year-old has a limited no-trade list, according to Rosenthal.
The right-fielder is currently tied for second in the National League with 30 home runs and his .852 OPS is a career-high.
Justin Verlander
UPDATE: Verlander has cleared waivers and can be traded to any team.
The righty’s 10-and-5 rights will make it difficult for the Detroit Tigers to move him, but at least for now, the team is free to try.
There was speculation that Verlander would be moved ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but it didn’t end up happening and the fact remains that his contract’s a giant pill to swallow for most organizations.
The 34-year-old is making $28 million this year and is owed $56 million over the next two seasons, with a $22-million vesting option in 2020. If the Tigers were to deal Verlander, who sports a 4.29 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 130 innings this season, they’ll presumably need to eat some of his contract.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Tigers general manager Al Avila said Wednesday when asked about the possibility Verlander could be traded in August, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com.
“These kind of things sometimes have better movement in the wintertime, when teams are readjusting their budgets and their roster and things of that nature. Nothing’s guaranteed. He might be with us for even longer than that. I couldn’t predict it today. Anything can happen.”
Stay tuned as we’ll be updating this list as more names become available.
Jose Bautista
Bautista is on waivers, as reported by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
The right-fielder’s 10-and-5 rights give him the option to nix any potential deal, though a change of scenery and a shot at a World Series title could be enough to entice the 36-year-old to agree to a move.
The six-time all-star is slashing .216/.325/.381 this season with 16 home runs, and will almost certainly be a free agent this winter.
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