Tim in Scarborough, Ontario writes…
How does MLB’s waiver policy work? I keep hearing about good players on waivers and wonder what the heck teams are thinking. Which Blue Jays do you think are on waivers?
Answer:
Year after year, baseball media hyperbolize the happenings on the waiver wire. They are usually non-stories for which minimal to no context is provided.
Major League’s Baseball waiver system is unique. Following the July 31st non-wavier deadline, teams may only deal players who clear waivers. However, if claimed, the waiving club has three options. They may allow the claimer to take the player. The two organizations could negotiate compensation for him, failing which the player may be removed from waivers.
Almost everybody in the league is on waivers. There are no downsides to this type of transaction. It allows teams to measure levels of interest or potentially nullify the previous deadline. In short, it increases the difficulty of consummating a trade. As such, reporters who cite sources as saying a player has been waived merely augment the public’s ignorance.
Most Blue Jays are probably on waivers. Adam Lind, Lyle Overbay, Scott Downs, Aaron Hill, Kevin Gregg, John Buck, Edwin Encarnacion, Fred Lewis, DeWayne Wise, Jason Frasor, Jose Molina, Jose Bautista, John McDonald, Shaun Marcum, Ricky Romero, Brian Tallet, Shawn Camp, and Casey Janssen have all probably been on waivers. Some of them surely cleared, while others were claimed and subsequently rescinded.
This approach is commonplace.
