메이저사이트Originally, Major League Baseball had two trade deadlines. There were non-waiver trades in late July and waiver trades in late August. Players who were claimed on waivers could still play in the postseason.
The basic meaning of the deadline is a non-waiver trade. Teams took advantage of this because they could move players freely without any restrictions. Waiver trades are a bit more complicated. After placing a player on waivers, all teams have to make a claim before they can negotiate with you. It’s not often that this leads to an actual trade.
The history of waiver trades reached an inflection point in 2019. The players’ union’s proposal eliminated the waiver trade deadline. With the trade deadline now a single day, teams went all in on non-waiver trades. Add in the fact that there are now three wild cards in each league, and you’ve got a recipe for a hectic deadline.
After a tumultuous July, August seemed to fly by quietly, with the Los Angeles Angels playing the villain. Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, Reynaldo Lopez, Hunter Renfroe, Randall Grichuk, and Dominic Leone were all placed on waivers. Giolito, Lopez, Grichuk, and Leone were acquired at the last deadline. The Angels’ move was a bit of a surprise.
Of course, the Angels weren’t the only ones to move players. The New York Yankees (Harrison Bader), New York Mets (Carlos Carrasco), Chicago White Sox (Mike Clevinger), and Detroit Tigers (Jose Cisneros) also made waiver announcements. However, it is highly unusual for a team to clear out players to the extent that the Angels did this year. The Athletic, a local publication, called it “exploiting a rule”.
The Angels broke no rules. Teams that are eliminated from postseason contention reorganize their rosters to reduce payroll. The Angels are also trying to avoid the luxury tax by waiving players’ remaining salaries. As a reminder, all six players the Angels placed on waivers are free agents after this season.
The player with the most salary remaining is Renfroe. The Angels owe Renfroe approximately $2 million for the remainder of the season. According to the Los Angeles-based Los Angeles County Register, the Angels could save roughly $7.4 million by releasing all six players, including Renfroe.
From this perspective, the Angels’ decision makes sense. They’re not going to be able to make the postseason, and they don’t want to waste salary. It’s understandable, considering that running a team is a business. “It’s a business,” Giolito said.
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The problem is a loss of trust. The players are the foundation of a club. Players need clubs, but clubs don’t exist without players. At first glance, the Angels’ move looks like a maneuver to get around the rules. But it’s not like other teams don’t know about it. There’s a reason they don’t do it. It’s not good for the organization’s image if it comes across as domineering. If players don’t want to play for you, you’ll lose value.
Waivers are prioritized in reverse order of their performance this year. The last-place Oakland Athletics are first, and the first-place Atlanta Braves are last. In the event of a tie, last year’s record is considered. Unsurprisingly, teams that missed the postseason this year aren’t interested in claiming players off waivers. They don’t want to add to their payroll.
Teams that might be interested start with the 14th-ranked Miami Marlins. The 15th-ranked Cincinnati Reds, 16th-ranked San Francisco Giants, 18th-ranked Arizona Diamondbacks, and 20th-ranked Chicago Cubs are currently fighting for the National League wild card. They could use a “second chance” to bolster their rosters and get a leg up on the competition.
Just a month ago, the Angels were throwing their hat in the ring for the postseason by going on a player acquisition spree. Many called it reckless. But you can’t blame a team for going all in. The ambitious voyage didn’t reach its goal, but to cynically look at the attempt would be to disqualify it from the discussion of “last-ditch sportsmanship”.
However, this trip left the Angels’ challenge in vain. The remaining players lost motivation. It made them feel defeated, which is worse than losing.
