Although the MLB non-waiver trade deadline passed on Monday afternoon, the trading window hasn’t yet fully closed.
Teams can still arrange trades by placing players on revocable waivers. If someone clears, he’s eligible to get dealt in August. If a franchise doesn’t want to outright relinquish the rights to a claimed player, it can pull him back and negotiate with that team during a 48-hour window.
The process hinders stars from switching clubs, but contenders can still locate solid pieces for their playoff aspirations. Last year, waiver acquisition Addison Reed became a vital late-inning reliever during the New York Mets’ World Series run, and he boasts a 1.97 ERA as their setup man this season.
Danny Valencia, Mike Napoli, Chase Utley and Fernando Rodney also changed teams last August, so don’t turn off the hot stove just yet. While the majority of players waived will get yanked back, some interesting names could stir the pot. It’s not all for show, as a few veterans still have a strong chance of going elsewhere before September 1, when a player must be on a team to hold postseason eligibility.
Let’s sift through some predictions for a less eventful, yet still noteworthy waiver period.