UPDATED: MLB.com is now reporting that the Kazmir to the Angels deal fell through.
Lyle Spencer of MLB.com is reporting that according to a club source the Angels are close to landing left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Rays for a pair of prospects.
The Rays will get pitcher Alexander Torres and third baseman Matthew Sweeney in return in the deal, which is expected to be announced later today.
I know he's having a rough year -- 8-7 with a 5.92 ERA -- and has a pretty big contract, but I'm still surprised Tampa is giving up on the 25-years-old and that he cleared waivers.
This could effect the hunt for the best record baseball.
Just saw this on espn.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the Rays are basically considering dumping salary while in a wild card race.
If I was a fan of the Rays, I would be pissed.
Then again, if I was a fan of the Rays, I would get my head examined.
hahahahaha
ReplyDeleteDid Kazmir clear waivers, though? Didn't the Angels claim him and that's why they are working on a deal?
ReplyDeleteI'd read the article myself, but I'm at work. lol
Good point JC, for some reason I didn't even think of that.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I just read the article on ESPN and it says he cleared waivers early this month.
ReplyDeleteI thought a team had to claim a player and that's when a deal was worked out?
The whole waiver wire thing is a bit too complicated for me at times, lol.
lol, I'm very surprised he cleared waivers. If I was Cashman I would have put a claim in a tried to work something out. If I was a lot of GMs I'd do the same.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's why it doesn't make sense to me... How does someone like Kazmir clear? I don't get it.
ReplyDeletehe cleared cause of his salary. If you claim him you have to be willing to take on the salary of the player. That being said I think Cashman should have def put a claim in for him.
ReplyDeleteIf he was on waivers and Cashman did not put a claim in then something is very wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf he was on waivers and Cashman did not put a claim in then something is very wrong.
ReplyDeleteCashman might very well have put in a claim... but since the Yankees have a better record than the Angels, they get claim preference.
Also, this was a salary dump. Kazmir is owed ~$30M over the next three seasons.
Sorry, wasn't clear there - the Angels claim on Kazmir effectively blocked the Yankees from any possible claim, if there was any. Since the Yankees have the best record, there's no point in claiming a guy unless you really want him anyway, as you can't block anyone other than the NL.
ReplyDeleteChris, this USA Today article (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-08-29-trade-kazmir_N.htm?csp=34) Implies that Kazmir did clear waivers.
ReplyDeleteGood point Chris, I completely forgot about the record preference
ReplyDelete