There’s no official deadline for MLB teams to strike a trade through revocable waivers, but playoff contenders have until Wednesday to make a deal that can factor into the postseason.
Any player acquired after Aug. 31 is not eligible for his new club’s playoff roster, so a postseason hopeful must hurry if it foresees an acquisition producing in October. It’s not a far-fetched scenario, as Chase Utley and Addison Reed played postseason baseball for teams that traded for them last August.
If a player clears waivers, his team can bargain a deal with any other organization. If a franchise places a claim, that team holds exclusive negotiating rights. The player’s team can also pull the waived player back or let him go outright.
So far, little of note has happened past the non-waiver deadline. The Miami Marlins acquired Jeff Francoeur, the Washington Nationals landed Marc Rzepczynski and the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers swapped veteran catchers Carlos Ruiz and A.J. Ellis.
None of these deals reshaped the playoff picture. It’s unlikely any blockbuster moves go down, but some notable names are floating around as possible trade candidates.
Here are some predictions for what will transpire before Wednesday’s cutoff for postseason eligibility.