Waiver Wire 2010

[BSN07]

An unknown American League team claimed Jonathan Papelbon, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

 

The Red Sox placed last night's hero, Mike Lowell, on waivers, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

 

I know this is pretty standard stuff this time of year. But for conversation sake, who does everyone think is the mystery team in on Papelbon is? And the odds of anything actually happening?

[Dojji]

lol it honestly could have been anyone, and no, nothing's going to happen on the Papelbon front.

 

As for Lowell, it's a distinct possibility except that we actually need him atm until we know whether we're going to lose Youks for the rest of the season or not. But if Theo decides to get what he can for Lowell, I suppose we can run with stopgaps for the rest of the year -- or call up Saltalamacchia and play him or V-mart at 1B.

[Palodios]

I don't really understand how this process works. What's to stop the worst team in baseball from claiming all of the good players, like say Papelbon or Dunn, and nulling the value of waiver trades? Clearly the Sox/Nationals aren't going to lose the opportunity to get value/draft picks next year from these players if they do decide to trade them, so how do actual waiver trades get done?

[jacksonianmarch]

Nothing stop the worst team in baseball from doing that. Every team hopes they can slip through whomever they want, but as it turns out, only the overpaid guys slide through. The only risk a team takes in claiming a player is that the waiving team doesnt pull the player back and the claiming team needs to assume the contract. Happened with Alex Rios last yr, overpaid player that the White Sox claimed and the Jays never pulled him back. Turned out to be a great move for Chicago as he is probably their second best hitter behind Konerko right now

[Palodios]

It just seems illogical to me-- almost as if only guys with overpaid contracts can be traded. Why not dump salary in July like everyone else?

[jacksonianmarch]

Because a good amount of teams right now arent sure if they are buyers or sellers. In 2 weeks, more teams will know.

[Will617]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_transactions#Waivers

 

If a bad team claims them, the Sox will just pull the player back or refuse to get a deal done. Also, things change between now and the deadline. I'd bet some of the losers from the deadline that needed a bat (White Sox, Giants) or relief help (can't remember anyone off my head but there must be quite a few) would be scrambling to acquire pieces now.

The fact that Mike Lowell is on waivers is more worrying than Papelbon being on waivers. I don't think Papelbon will be leaving except for a huge package, but Mike Lowell is needed right now if the Sox want to compete, and letting him go would basically giving up on this season.

Then again, maybe Theo's just throwing names out and seeing if he can fleece a good prospect. But somehow I don't think that's the case.

[Palodios]

Lowell presents a lot of problems. They see Varitek as a better solution to the problem than Lowell.

[BSN07]

The Rangers are getting "much trade interest" in first baseman Chris Davis, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Major league sources say that Davis has become a popular name and the Red Sox, who picked up Carlos Delgado today, are among the teams that have shown interest.

 

He's a project. Might be worth it though.

[soxfan74]

Really don't get the Chris Davis interest. I also don't get the Red Sox obsessions with first baseman and outfielders lately. We have plenty of outfield and firstbase options coming. Last year it was Laroche and Kotchman. This year Davis and Delgado who hasn't played in A year and a half. I don't mind the Idea of Jason Werth in the off season. However we have greater concerns than another corner outfielder. Like resigning Beltre seeming we have nothing in Terms of depth at third base. The graetest concern should be the bullpen. Not first base and outfield.

[Dojji]

He's a project. Might be worth it though.

 

I'm interested in Davis. Strikes out way too much, but he definitely has the tools. Potential Ortiz type if he can learn to make contact. Only 24 -- there's time. I'd pick him up and stash him in AAA or on the bench and see what he can do.

[BSN07]

The Rockies will release Hawpe after tonight's game, making him a free agent, tweets Renck.

 

I think it be worth trying to catch lightning in a bottle with him for the rest of the year. Especially with Cameron and Ellsbury going down again.

[Dojji]

If he can't hit for power in Colorado...

[a700hitter]

If he can't hit for power in Colorado...

He has been injured most of the season, and his playing time has been limited when healthy. They have a logjam situation. I would pick him up. We don't have much depth in the OF.

[example1]

Hawpe has had an OPS near or above .900 for the past 4 seasons. He's 31. If this team is willing to take a shot with Jeremy Hermida, why not take a shot at Hawpe? They could do a lot worse IMO.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I wouldn't mind seeing them add Hawpe as long as he doesn't see any time in the OF.

[BSN07]

The Red Sox claimed Johnny Damon off waivers from the Tigers, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. The next question is whether the Tigers will work out a trade with the Sox, dump Damon on them for nothing, or pull him back. Damon can veto a trade to the Red Sox. Of Damon's $8MM salary, about $1.8MM remains. Heyman opined earlier today that he believes the Tigers would let Damon go if a deal cannot be worked out.

[BSN07]

Sorry, I see now it was mentioned in another thread

[RWTP24]

What does everyone feel about Damon "maybe" joining the Sox?? ??

[Dojji]

Meh

[redsoxrules]

Meh

 

translation:

 

I dont like it because Kalish and Nava are better

[soxfan17881]

Damon back is a novelty that will be interesting for one game. Not much more than that.

[a700hitter]

Damon back is a novelty that will be interesting for one game. Not much more than that.

He will help the lineup. This will be more than a novelty. People underestimate what this guy's value is to a lineup. He has over 2,500 hits. If he can find a place to play for the next 3 years, he'll have a really good shot at 3,000 hits and that puts him into the Hall. Please let's not try to put Nava into Damon's class even at age 36. It's just not credible.

[ORS]

Sure it is. Nava is more productive....right now. Damon's 2500 hits are in the past. What he can do now is what matters to the team, and from the looks of things, Nava appears to offer more.

[a700hitter]

Sure it is. Nava is more productive....right now. Damon's 2500 hits are in the past. What he can do now is what matters to the team' date=' and from the looks of things, Nava appears to offer more.[/quote']So in writing out a lineup card for the Red Sox, you would bench Damon in favor of Nava?

[soxfan74]

Unless Damon is nothing more than a DH. Yes I bench him in Favor of Nava. For the Record Nava has a pretty good bat as well. Damon won't be taking over the DH spot for Papi.

[a700hitter]

Unless Damon is nothing more than a DH. Yes I bench him in Favor of Nava. For the Record Nava has a pretty good bat as well. Damon won't be taking over the DH spot for Papi.

Nava might be a better value at this point, because he makes nothing, but he is not a better player than Damon in any respect with the exception of throwing arm. Damon is a better overall offensive player who sees more pitches, has more power, and is still a better base runner than Nava. Damon is still better at running down fly balls. Nava's instincts in the field are just not very good at all. Next season, unless he decides to hang them up, Damon probably have a starting job somewhere. Nava will never have a starting job with anyone. The team that gives Damon a starting job will not do so if the likes of a Daniel Nava can outproduce Damon for the league minimum.

[soxfan74]

There batting numbers a very close considering Damon has 314 more at bats this season. At this stage in his career Damon is not the power hitter he used to be. I don't count last year where he was hitting fly balls for home runs in short right field in Yankee stadium. I wouldn't go as far to say that Nava will never start for anyone. If Damon plays anything other than DH next season for anyone that Team has made a big mistake. Not discounting what Damon has done throughout his career. He has been a great ballplayer. He is not anywhere close to that player anymore.

[a700hitter]

There batting numbers a very close considering Damon has 314 more at bats this season. At this stage in his career Damon is not the power hitter he used to be. I don't count last year where he was hitting fly balls for home runs in short right field in Yankee stadium. I wouldn't go as far to say that Nava will never start for anyone. If Damon plays anything other than DH next season for anyone that Team has made a big mistake. Not discounting what Damon has done throughout his career. He has been a great ballplayer. He is not anywhere close to that player anymore.

I agree that Damon is not the player that he used to be, but he is still better than Nava. I think Joe Maddon agrees with me.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/08/maddon_stay_in.html

 

A number of Red Sox players want him to come to Boston too. I don't think they want him back to go to dinner.

[soxfan74]

Yeah sure glad to see that Varitek. Who is on the D.L. Ortiz who does nothing but D.H. Last but not least Wakefield who is no longer a starting pitcher want him back. Just makes you feel all warm and cozy on the inside to know all the soon to be retired players want Damon back for one more small shot at Glory before the end.