Yesterday’s biggest development was the number of players reportedly on the waiver wire. The Angels, White Sox, Yankees, Mets and Tigers each put impending free agents on irrevocable waivers.
Those clubs are out of contention. The hope is that another team with a path to the playoffs will take what remains of this year’s contract off their hands. It’s particularly meaningful in the Angels’ case, as shedding enough veterans could allow them to limbo back under the luxury tax threshold after their deadline push fell flat.
No other player known to be on waivers has the upside of Lucas Giolito. The right-hander has had a tough time in Orange County, allowing a 6.89 ERA over six starts. Giolito has been the victim of a home run barrage in Southern California, allowing multiple longballs in three of those appearances. Clearly, the past month hasn’t gone as he or the team had envisioned. Yet we’re only four weeks removed from Giolito and reliever Reynaldo López (also now on waivers) fetching two of the Halos’ top prospects in trade. Now, another team could have him for nothing more than the approximate $1.9MM remaining on his arbitration contract.
Giolito isn’t the only starter out there, but he’s by far the most appealing (at least among the players publicly reported to be on waivers). The Mets made Carlos Carrasco available. He has a 6.80 ERA through 20 starts on the season, though. He hasn’t shown much sign of recent progress, allowing 35 runs and a staggering .404/.450/.654 opponents’ batting line in 29 innings since the All-Star Break. It’s hard to imagine him as an upgrade for a contending pitching staff, particularly since there’s still around $2.6MM remaining on his $14MM salary.
Mike Clevinger would be a clearer roster upgrade than Carrasco. He missed a month and a half midway through the year with biceps inflammation. A return one start before the August 1 deadline wasn’t sufficient to drum up trade interest. Clevinger has turned in a solid enough season, though, pitching to a 3.32 ERA over 97 2/3 innings. While his 20.8% strikeout rate and 9.3% walk percentage are each worse than average, it’d be easy enough for a number of hopeful contenders to find room for Clevinger at the back of their rotation — at least from an on-field perspective.
Complicating matters is the structure of the righty’s contract. Clevinger’s $8MM salary isn’t the issue, as most teams could easily accommodate the roughly $1.5MM still to be paid out. Yet there’s also a $4MM buyout on a $12MM mutual option for next season. Clevinger receives the buyout regardless of which side declines the option and is very likely to return to free agency since mutual options are almost never triggered by both sides. A claiming team would have to take on responsibility for the buyout as well — it’s all or nothing for assuming a player’s contract off waivers — so it’d be a nearly $5.5MM investment for a month (and perhaps a playoff run) of Clevinger’s services.
That’s a tough sell for a team. If there were no option buyout, he’d need to be playing this season on a $30MM salary to have that kind of money remaining on his deal. It’s hard to imagine any team views Clevinger as equivalent to a $30MM pitcher, even for just a few weeks.
While Carrasco and Clevinger seem like borderline waiver claims at best, there’s little doubt someone will add Giolito. Despite his recent struggles, he’d be a clear upgrade for fringe contenders with uncertain rotation outlooks.
A few things to remember before taking a look at the likeliest teams to make a claim. It’ll be a club with playoff aspirations. Giolito would be the best pitcher on the A’s, but there’s no incentive for them to add him when he’ll be a free agent in five weeks. Yet he’s probably not going to wind up with one of the three best teams in the sport. Waiver priority is in inverse order of the MLB standings as of tomorrow morning. The Dodgers, Orioles and/or Braves could place a claim, but it’s very likely someone with a worse record will do so as well and beat them out.
Let’s identify potential fits (in expected waiver priority order):
- Padres (62-72)
This could be a test of how much optimism remains in the San Diego front office. The Padres are 10 games under .500 and eight out of the final NL Wild Card spot. A postseason run is hard to envision at this point. Yet the Friars held Blake Snell and Josh Hader at the deadline and acquired Garrett Cooper, Ji Man Choi, Scott Barlow and Rich Hill. If there’s any hope for 2023 left at Petco Park, a Giolito claim would be the last sign. Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish are on the injured list, leaving Hill and Pedro Avila in the starting five. There’s room for Giolito on the roster. A couple million dollars doesn’t seem much of a deterrent for owner Peter Seidler. The question is simply whether the Padres still think they have a shot.
- Marlins (66-66)
Miami looked into rotation possibilities at the deadline but ultimately brought in just a depth starter in Ryan Weathers. They’ve kept Edward Cabrera in Triple-A for the past month. Johnny Cueto is on the injured list, while it’s unclear if Trevor Rogers will return at all this season. There’s a strong front four in Sandy Alcantara, Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and rookie Eury Pérez. There’s enough uncertainty with the final rotation spot that Miami could consider a claim.
Notably, the Marlins aren’t guaranteed to remain above the Reds’ in the waiver order. A Marlins win over the Rays paired with a Cincinnati loss in San Francisco would push Miami’s win percentage marginally above that of the Reds.
- Reds (68-66)
The Reds are the first club where it’d be incredibly surprising if they didn’t put in a claim on Giolito. Cincinnati didn’t address their rotation at the deadline despite ranking 27th at the time in rotation ERA. They’ve been no better over the past month, with their starters allowing 5.86 earned runs per nine in 26 games. Hunter Greene returned from the injured list in the intervening weeks but was shelled in his first two starts back. Nick Lodolo — initially expected back from a leg injury at the end of this month — suffered a setback. Even with Graham Ashcraft and Brandon Williamson performing well of late, there’s clear room for more help. The Reds checked in with the White Sox about their rotation before the deadline, presumably at least gauging Chicago’s asking price on Giolito before they sent him to Anaheim.
- Twins (69-65)*
Giolito would be a luxury buy for a Minnesota club that’s on its way to an AL Central title. The rotation is already strong, anchored by Pablo López, Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Joe Ryan. The Twins have gotten decent enough work from Dallas Keuchel that they optioned Bailey Ober to Triple-A. Placing a claim would simply be about deepening the pitching staff for the postseason, where skipper Rocco Baldelli could have quicker hooks for everyone aside from López and Gray.
- Red Sox (69-64)
The Red Sox may feel their rotation is strong enough to pass on Giolito. They’re running with a starting five of Chris Sale, James Paxton, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford. That’s a pretty good group, although they’re middle-of-the-pack in ERA and strikeout rate since the All-Star Break. Paxton, Sale and Houck have had injury concerns. Houck and Crawford have spent time in the bullpen this season.
Starting pitching isn’t necessarily a need, but adding any kind of talent could be welcome for a club that has fallen 6.5 games out of the last AL Wild Card spot. Boston has roughly $9MM in payroll space before reaching the base luxury tax threshold, as calculated by Roster Resource. They’d only take on the remaining portion of Giolito’s salary if they claimed him, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
- Diamondbacks (69-64)
If Cincinnati, Boston (and everyone else in front of them) passes on Giolito, the D-Backs figure to step in. They’re quite similar to the Reds. Arizona’s a surprise contender that sought but didn’t find rotation upgrades for the deadline. They also touched base with the Sox on Giolito. There’s still very little depth beyond Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Righty Slade Cecconi has five MLB appearances to his name. Brandon Pfaadt has been knocked around as a rookie. Zach Davies probably shouldn’t be starting for a team with playoff aspirations. Tommy Henry, arguably the club’s third-best starter, seems likely to miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury.
*Note: Boston, Minnesota and Arizona could swap places in waiver priority tonight. When multiple clubs have the same record, priority goes to the team in the same league as the team that put the player on waivers. Within leagues, priority goes to the team that had the worse record in prior seasons. If they all have the same record going into tomorrow, the order would go Minnesota (worse record than the Red Sox in 2021) – Boston – Arizona.
—————————–
It’s tough to envision scenarios where Giolito gets past the Diamondbacks. At least one of Miami, Cincinnati and Arizona should be motivated enough to make a claim. Contenders like the Cubs, Rays, Orioles and Dodgers may all have interest, but it’d require inexplicable decisions to pass on the part of a few teams in front of them. Perhaps clubs near the back of the waiver order will consider a flier on Clevinger as a fallback, though the aforementioned contract situation makes that far less appealing than getting Giolito would be.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Oh come on!
Even the Padres know their season’s over. If I were Seidler and AJ walked into my office asking to sign Gio, I wouldn’t just fire him..I’d throw him out the window into traffic.
Simm
From a playoff standpoint you are right. The padres will need several starters next year so I could see them picking him up just to see if he is someone they would be interested in signing next year.
Riontyler
That sir, is murder!
sufferforsnakes
Eh, I see it more as mercy.
Deadguy
Happened to Ed Brown… was ruled a suicide… happens all the time?
Haven’t you heard getting away with murder by papa roach?
youtu.be/lroMKbqupk4?si=siyEBgNuioNfI6NB
Sometimes people don’t have to fire a bullet or antagonize anyone… society, Robert Kardasian, and O.J. Simpson do it for them? These days all you gotta do to throw someone out of a window and get away with it is be a CEO and expect to much… dust yourself off kid, you only fell 10 feet?
Deadguy
Whooo wants to work for Ratigian the RAT?
Or Governor Ratcliffe?
*In best condescending Governor Ratcliff high pitched tone* OOOHHHH but that’s your place! Don’t you understand only I’m psychopathic and narssacistic enough to be the one they call “THE BEST”
And Thomas learn how to fire that thing, you’ve made a piety of a fool as a salior and even worse as a working boy… “don’t disappoint me again”
Enttäusch mich nicht!!!!!
case
Fake news, all those Russian oligarchs accidentally tripped and fell out those windows.
Oddvark
Defenestration!
Pete'sView
And what, no mention of the Giants? If D-Backs pass, SF jumps on Giolito and Lopez.
weaselpuppy
They say defenestration is 18% of the game…
Riontyler
Urrrmmm, I think you’re mistaken. Turns out, due to recent developments, it’s 18.00064%
You’re welcome.
Dogbone
White Sox
the_oilman
Unless the White Sox felt he was part of the culture issue, why wouldn’t they put in a claim to bring him back for the rest of the year? They already got value for his expiring contract, could be a proper farewell, and put Kopech back in the pen or even AAA to work on command? He said he loved it there, maybe a show of appreciation helps him want to return for less free agent money next year than signing elsewhere?
avenger65
the_oilman: Reinsdorf got rid of anyone making more than $3m a year. He’s a cheapskate. If he cared about winning he would’ve kept Gio, Lopez and Clevinger. Unfortunately, they want to get paid. In his last few starts for the Sox, Gio was his old self. He would’ve had more wins but their bullpen is determined to set the record for most blown saves in a season. But they’re cheap, so they’re staying. With the right pitching coach, Gio could be the pitcher he was in 2019 when he finished sixth in Cy Young voting. Right now, Clevinger might be a better choice than Gio. He’s been pitching great lately, usually into the seventh inning. Then the BP…well, you know. I hope they both sign with contenders.
LordD99
Their hope is some wealthier team won’t be concerned by the $5MM+ cost and will save them a few million. Odds are when Friday rolls around, Clevinger will still be on the Pale Hose.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Not a bad idea- would also be a way of trolling the Angels
Jeremy320
He’s a red or marlin depending on what happens tonight.
Ejemp2006
False. The Mariners are the only correct answer. Lucas “GSpot” Giolito comes in and becomes Seattle’s long inning relief master. Thats where he wants to land so why not?
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Because the M’s have a bunch of teams who would have the option to sign him before they do..and several of those teams desperately need another starter.
CCooper8920
Wouldn’t the D-Backs have a better record than the Giant, since SF lost today?
TheStevilEmpire1
The Cardinals should certainly be in on a couple of these guys. If they’re serious about competing next year, show it by bringing in Giolito AND Clevinger! They have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
showmebb
How does that help them next year?
mike127
Show——it doesn’t even help them this year. Ha!
Portland Micro-Brewers
Yeah keep the players out of the playoffs, that’ll help you sign them this offseason. Bulletproof logic
tbone0816
I agree
Unclemike1526
I’m willing to bet that Giolito follows his old buddy Flaherty to Baltimore.
Pete'sView
Depends on what happens tonight for the D-Backs.
Reynaldo
Marlins will claim Giolito, Bader, and Reynald Lopez.
avenger65
Reynaldo: Miami could be Little Chicago. Cueto, Burger, Lopez and Clevinger all played for the Sox within the last two seasons
jbryant0693
They can claim all of them, but they will only get awarded one claim.
deepseamonster32
jbryant0693, not true. A club could add all 9 guys if they’re the worst team to claim each guy.
this ain’t fantasy
James Midway
Dude got beat like a drum in Anaheim. What team wants a dude that’s going to give up 8 runs a start?
nukeg
Because they won’t have Angels crappy coaching staff and analytics department.
Halo11Fan
There is a disconnect between the coaching staff and analytics department. I trust Bill Hazel of driveline a lot more than I trust the coaching staff.
Pedro Martinez’s Mango Tree
The Red Sox need live arms. Their pen got cleared out again today so they’re running on fumes
mbart33
Cubs need
Clevenger
MacGromit
@Gwynning
love the screen name. that guy was a special human being.
avenger65
You’ve got our second baseman (Madrigal), don’t put anymore White Sox in that uniform.
Blue Baron
What do you care? The White Sox are out of it.
And Madrigal is no longer “your” second baseman.
Pete'sView
mbart33 — Many forget that Clevenger f@#ked his teammates in Cleveland, that he’s really not that good of a pitcher and he’s an injury waiting to happen.
Gwynning
Great article, thanks!
Dumpster Divin Theo
Great comment, thanks!
CKinSTL
The Guardians seem to be a decent bet to grab a starter.. they have exhausted their pitching depth and Gavin Williams had an early exit last night with a knee issue. Plus, they are now only 5 games back, with three more coming up against the Twins.
solaris602
Completely agree. They’re probably (and SHOULD BE) kicking themselves for the DFA of Syndergaard. They’ve reached the bottom of the depth chart. Now they just need bodies. Even if they somehow bring Thor back, they should at least come away with Carrasco for a farewell tour and to occupy a rotation spot.
CKinSTL
It still seems strange to me that they didn’t stash Syndergaard in the bullpen. I know the bullpen was gassed and they were hurting for a fresh arm.. but I cannot help but wonder if something else was going on with Thor. Maybe I’m overthinking it though..
Aaron Johnson
If Giolito pitches well in a playoff game I think the Angels and MLB are gonna have some splainin to do.
Blue Baron
@Aaron Johnson: What an amazingly dumb comment.
What explaining and to whom?
Halo11Fan
That the new rules created this joke.
If someone did this in my fantasy league, they’d be kicked out of the league.
This new no trade rule has to be addressed.
Blue Baron
It’s just a trade deadline. And the owners and players agreed to it in collective bargaining, so it has been addressed.
If you don’t like it, too bad. This is real MLB life, not fantasy baseball.
Halo11Fan
It’s not a trade deadline, that’s the point. It was a huge mistake and will get corrected sooner than later.
After this debacle, you can’t possibly believe this was a good idea. No one can.
No one with even a remote understanding of baseball thinks this was a good idea. And if you don’t understand this is going to change the landscape of competitive balance than you are clueless.
Aaron Johnson
What he said ^^^
Guess it wasn’t an “amazingly dumb” comment after all.
If you don’t see how this is bad for baseball, I just don’t know what to tell you.
Blue Baron
Unless and until you clarify why a postseason result requires explaining as if some kind of fix is going on, it remains an amazingly dumb comment.
There was a trade deadline on August 1. This is now the waiver process.
It is the system agreed to in collective bargaining. All stakeholders play under the same rules.
If players and owners feel that change is needed, they can address it in bargaining for the next CBA.
Jumping up and down as if only you know what’s good for baseball and your opinion is incontrovertible fact is asinine and accomplishes nothing.
Halo11Fan
I guess you are jjust stupid. Cleveland just acquired three useful platyers for nothing.
Blue Baron
The Angels are off the hook for their contracts, so it essentially is for cash.
That’s how waivers work.
I guess you are just stupid.
But fortunately for you, stupidity isn’t a crime, so you’re free to go.
Blue Baron
Here. Try to learn something.
mlb.com/news/mlb-outright-waivers-rules-claims-exp…
This one belongs to the Reds
I’ll say it again, it is malpractice if the kid GM don’t claim at least two SP.
Bobcastelliniscat
It’s up to The Castellinis and not Nick Krall. If it costs Bob Castellini more than pocket change, then the Reds won’t
Claim anyone.
It will be fun listening to Krall’s verbal gymnastics as he tries to explain why the Reds pass on these players.
HalosHeavenJJ
Yet another in the endless string of guys who come here and immediately get worse.
Let’s keep skimping on coaching, video, and analytics types through.
Arte Ball!
Jeremy320
I’m still unclear; does a team’s position change after a claim?
jbryant0693
Yes. After they are awarded a claim, they go to the back of the line.
deepseamonster32
jbryant0693, not true. teams are in the same spot for each player
deepseamonster32
Jeremy320, no. Oakland has first dibs on every single player. then KC. then Colorado. and so on.
Same order for every single player, regardless of other claims.
It’s part of the strategy. a club could get stuck with a lot of players, so gotta be careful on who a club claims.
rmullig2
If the Red Sox don’t put in a claim then it is just Bloom giving the middle finger to Cora. That rotation of 4 inning starters doesn’t give them a chance to compete.
Blue Baron
Why would any GM “give the middle finger” to a manager when they are both trying to accomplish the same thing.
How old are you, 11?
Blue Baron
“…where Giolito gets PAST the Diamondbacks.”
Is Anthony Franco seriously not up on basic spelling or don’t they proofread content on here?
It’s a bad look either way.
stan lee the manly
If I’m the Cardinals, I’m picking up Giolito in a heartbeat to see up close if he’s got anything left in the tank as a possibility for next year or if the struggles are for real.
Blue Baron
Why? He’s in his walk year, so they would have no rights to him for next year.
They can watch him pitch for another team for free and pursue him in free agency.
And so can 29 other teams.
jbryant0693
You’re paying 1.5M to find that out? Why not just send a scout to wherever else he’s pitching and save the money?
Blue Baron
My point exactly.
stan lee the manly
There’s a lot scouts can’t capture, like clubhouse fit, mental makeup, intangibles, etc. When else do teams have a chance to test drive a high-cost player before they buy? Giolito is a high-risk, high reward signing and spending a million now may save them 10s of millions later.
Blue Baron
But why the Cardinals as opposed to any number of other teams?
dodgerskingsfan
Watch. The dodgers will get someone.
jbryant0693
Clevinger, if any.
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
Harrison Bader would be a nice platoon. Unlikely he gets that far though
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
“No other player known to be on waivers has the upside of Lucas Giolito.”
Wrong by many measures- that would actually be Mike Clevinger (a 130 career ERA+ and a peak of 174 vs Giolito’s 100 career ERA+ at league average and a peak full season number of 134)
Buzz Killington
A’s will claim by accident not realizing he’s not earning league minimum and they’ll go “bankrupt”.
Blue Baron
LOL!
GOAT Closer Esteban Yan
The Rays need to be on this list. The way they’ve been burning through pitchers this year, they need all of the SP depth they can get.
Blue Baron
I saw Esteban Yan hit a home run at Shea Stadium on 6/4/2000 (my wife’s birthday)!
ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=6132&t…
manfraud
I’d love to see if Giolito and Lopez continue to bounce around the league as package deal
Deleted Userr
Update: They did
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
It seems like the Giants could also go after him. Haven’t they been bullpenning every non-Webb/Cobb outing?
Pete'sView
Makes total sense, even with Harrison filling in the SF rotation.
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
Yeah I failed to mention Harrison. Kid’s a stud
PutPeteinthehall
Cubs, Rays, Orioles, Dodgers are labeled as “contenders”
Wow stock has really risen on Chicago’s North side team.
Libpwnr
They’re all trash. Who wants to go dumpster diving?
angt222
Mets
Edp007
Lucas extremely overrated
martras
Personally, I’d bet on the Guardians putting in a claim. The Twins collapsed last year and they could do it again this year with several games left vs. Cleveland.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Why is this uninformed author still working? Most commentors seem more qualified to wrtie than thus guy. His only qualifications seem to be: 1) grumpy old white male (like everyone else writing here), 2) qualified to censor comments with great zeal and gusto, and 3) ability to say irrational things to get clicks