With the regular season coming to a close, we can see with MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker that there were dozens of waiver claims made this season. While many of the players involved in these transactions didn’t crack a big league roster or didn’t stick following their claim, a handful provided legitimate value to their new clubs. Let’s take a look at some of the better pulls…
- Sam Fuld (Claimed by Twins from A’s on April 20): Fuld was acquired by the Twins simply because they needed depth in center field, but he provided quite a bit more than depth. Fuld batted a very solid .274/.370/.354 in 195 PA with the Twins and provided value both on the bases and in the outfield. He was traded back to Oakland on July 31, netting the Twins Tommy Milone. The 27-year-old Milone has struggled so far in Minnesota, but the team gained four years of control of a potential back-end starter in the deal.
- Hector Noesi (Claimed by White Sox from Rangers on April 25): Few expected Noesi to hold down a rotation spot in Chicago for the whole season, but he’s done just that. The 27-year-old, who was a castoff from the Mariners after struggling to a 6.13 ERA in parts of three seasons, made just three appearances with the Rangers before being DFAed there also. In Chicago, he’s turned in a 4.39 ERA with 6.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and a 37.7 percent ground-ball rate in 160 innings. He may not be an elite arm or even a long-term piece, but he’s provided some stability and soaked up innings, and there’s value to that for any club. Noesi is controlled through 2017 if the Sox are so inclined.
- Moises Sierra (Claimed by White Sox from Blue Jays on May 3): Chicago’s outfield depth took a hit with the injury to Avisail Garcia, and Sierra has helped fill some of the void in a part-time role. He hasn’t been an elite bat, but he’s provided above-average offense with a .280/.316/.423 and also played solid defense in right field. He’s yet to reach arbitration eligibility, and he remains under control through 2019, so he could serve as a bench piece in future seasons.
- Esmil Rogers (Claimed by Yankees from Blue Jays on July 31): Rogers’ struggles in Toronto were long bemoaned by Blue Jays fans, particularly because he was acquired in a deal that sent Yan Gomes to the Indians. The Yankees claimed him with little fanfare, but he’s given them five solid innings in a spot start and 19 2/3 innings of solid relief. The end result is a 3.28 ERA and a strong 22-to-8 K/BB ratio in 24 2/3 frames for the Yankees. While he might not be a long-term piece (he’s a non-tender candidate after earning $1.85MM this year), he did provide a positive contribution to a Yankee pitching staff that was still hoping to make a run at the time of his acquisition.
- Jordan Schafer (Claimed by Twins from Braves on Aug. 3): Once a top Braves prospect, Schafer’s second tenure with the club that drafted him didn’t go all that well, but the Twins again claimed him in need of outfield depth. Schafer has faredwell in Minnesota, slashing .285/.345/.362 with 15 steals in 20 attempts. He can be controlled through 2016 if the Twins wish to retain him as a fourth outfielder, which seems likely, as he earned a modest $1.09MM in 2014.
- Matt Thornton (Claimed by Nationals from Yankees on Aug. 5): Thornton pitched well in the Bronx after signing a two-year, $7MM deal with the Yankees, but his salary made him expendable to the Bombers, who let him go to the Nats on this waiver claim. The veteran lefty has rattled off 11 1/3 scoreless innings over 18 appearances with the Nats and is controlled through next season at $3.5MM.
- Jerome Williams (Claimed by the Phillies from the Rangers on Aug. 10): Williams struggled mightily with both Texas clubs after finding success as a swingman with the Angels from 2011-13, but he rediscovered himself in Philadelphia. He’s given the Phillies eight starts and 51 1/3 innings of 2.45 ERA ball with 6.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 45.7 percent ground-ball rate. With the Phillies toiling at the bottom of the NL East and Williams set to hit free agency at season’s end, the overall benefit may seem trivial, but he’s provided stable innings for the Phils and rebuilt some of the stock that his struggles in Houston and Arlington tarnished.
- John Axford (Claimed by Pirates from Indians on Aug. 14): Axford’s bid to reestablish himself with the Indians fell short, as he quickly lost the closer’s gig and walked 30 batters in 43 2/3 innings with Cleveland. The Bucs claimed him in hopes of lowering that walk rate, and they’ve succeeded. Axford has given the playoff-bound Bucs 10 2/3 innings of a 1.69 ERA in relief, and perhaps more importantly, he’s turned in a tidy 12-to-4 K/BB ratio in that time. He appears to have manager Clint Hurdle’s trust, as he’s worked the seventh inning three times, the eighth inning six times and the ninth inning three times in his 12 appearances as a Pirate. They’ll have the option to retain him via arbitration this offseason, though a raise on his $4.5MM salary may be too steep.
While these waiver claims vary in nature — some provide a long-term bench piece while others have provided short-term boosts — each has been of some benefit to their current club. That brings me to the question…
Doug in Ellicott City
I think the convoluted release and re-claim of Steve Pearce by Dan Duquette and the Orioles might be the move of the year.
Steve Adams
While a great move, that was a release and then a re-signing of Pearce, not a waiver claim.
Doug in Ellicott City
Agreed. The Blue Jays claimed him on waivers but Pearce had the right to decline which he did, so as to re-sign with Baltimore. The move really paid off for Baltimore and Pearce.
Flash Gordon
It’s always great to see a guy who sticks to it have a successful big league campaign after struggling as a Quad A guy for so long. That he came about after the age of 30 makes it all the better.
ian 2
Hard to vote against the Fuld claim and trade.
GeraldIII
Sierra went 4/4 in his first start with the Sox in May. Remove that game and his line drops to .256/.295/.397.
bucsws2014
I was torn between Axford and Thornton, but the deciding factor was the Bucs pen was a hot mess before Axford and has been great since (although Holdzkom and LaFromboise also helped). While Thornton helped the Nats, IMO, slotting Storen back at closer was a bigger deal.
sdubb15
Why isn’t JD Martinez on the ballot?
Steve Adams
Martinez signed a minor league deal in Spring Training. He wasn’t a waiver claim. We’ll put together something for minor league deals at some point as well. There were a lot of great ones though.
Over9000Walks
Gotta be Fuld. I means A’s had him, let him go, Twins claimed him, then traded him back to Oakland for a cost controlled arm. Not many people out swindle billy but this was probably the best anyone has.
Louisiana BB guy
Wow, where is Collin McHugh on this list?
Steve Adams
“In-season.”
steimel
Noesi. He’s had a career resurgence in Chicago. He’s even been really good at times.
sam valenti
He hasn’t been amazing, but I think that Jeffress deserves to at least be on the list here.
28 appearances, 27.2 innings, 1.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, a 3.83 K/BB ratio.
Not the sexiest of moves, but the brewers bullpen blew up after the break and he was one of the reason they stayed in the race so long imo.
Steve Adams
Wasn’t claimed on waivers. Signed a minor league deal.
sam valenti
Damnit you’re right!
Rally Weimaraner
Calling Sam Fuld the best waiver claim just because the A’s were willing to make a bad trade to acquire him doesn’t sound right to me.
Over9000Walks
It was the fact the A’s had him before they traded for him. They DFA him a month or so before they required him. That’s like the blue jays DFA esmil rodgers then trading back for him.
jb226 2
I went with Axford. With his new team fighting for a playoff spot, his performance is significant.
Individual players from the list may have better performances, but for me “best claim” is the one which makes the biggest difference. Axford is making a huge difference for the Pirates. Thornton is on a playoff team, but they’re going to win by like 17 games. The others ate innings/ABs for teams that weren’t going anywhere.
Now if you asked “which player would you bet on by keeping them next year” my answer would probably be different.
schaddy24
Jacob Turner? He didn’t play great, but his claim was a great long-term move.
Over9000Walks
Look at fangraphs. He’s pitched worse since going to the Cubs. He could actually wind up DFA in the off season or somewhere next season given he has no options left.
Steve Adams
I’d actually have included Turner, but he was technically acquired via trade. The Cubs claimed him on waivers, but they still had to send a pair of PTBNLs to Miami to facilitate the deal. Everyone on this list was either claimed off outright waivers or was let go on revocable trade waivers (Thornton, Axford).
Minnesota Matt
Can someone get the Twins to reassign the outfield scouts they have been using on other teams to scout starting pitching talent.. please?