As many teams as were interested in a closer, like Brian Fuentes of Colorado, there is no chance of him being dealt because his ability is too high and his contract too reasonable for the Rockies to be able to get him through waivers. Remember, the Rockies declined to deal him prior to July 31 unless they received a quality young pitcher ready to step into the rotation — like an Ian Kennedy or Aaron Poreda or Clay Buchholz — because they are willing to offer him arbitration in free agency or take two top 50 picks in next June’s draft as compensation if they lose him.
So what does it take to make a deal in August? It takes a player with a contract a team wants to unload, and that most other teams don’t want so they avoid putting in a waiver claim. If teams aren’t careful they can get stuck, like San Diego with Randy Myers back in 1998.
The Blue Jays put Myers on waivers for the sake of putting him on waivers, but the Padres put in a claim and the Jays didn’t hesitate letting the sore-armed pitcher go. He was 1-3 in 14 1/3 innings the remainder of the year with the Padres, but never did pitch while collecting $13.6 million from San Diego in 1999 and 2000.
That said, here are 10 players who could be dealt this month:
INF Rich Aurilia, San Francisco
Contract situation: Roughly $1.125 million remaining on $4.5 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.
Aurilia can play first and third, and fill in at short. He turns 37 on Sept. 2. He’s not part of plans for a Giants team that is finally trying to get younger. They’d like to save a million or so, and if he cleared waivers, a contender needing a veteran off the bench might throw a marginal prospect in the deal.
RHP Paul Byrd, Cleveland
Contract situation: Roughly $1.875 million remaining on $7.5 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.
Byrd is a veteran known for his ability to grind. He was 6-10 with a 4.72 ERA in his first 21 starts with Indians, but a contender would look at him as a guy who has been through stretch challenges before.
OF Brian Giles, San Diego
Contract situation: Roughly $2.25 million remaining on $9 million contract for 2008 plus a $3 million buyout on a $9 million option for 2009.
At the age of 37, and with his power disappearing (he hasn’t hit 20 home runs since 2004) his value has diminished. He’s hit a lot of leadoff for Padres, but that’s a reach. He’s never stolen 15 bases in a season. A more hitter-friendly ballpark and the adrenalin rush of a pennant race could work wonders for the competitor in Giles. For the Padres, saving $5 million would be welcomed.
LHP Mike Hampton, Atlanta
Contract situation: Roughly $3.75 million remaining on $15 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.
The Braves might pick up some of his salary. Hampton could be a sleeper. He missed all of 2006 and 2007, and was sidelined this year until July 22 because of elbow injuries and muscle pulls. He would be a late-August pickup because teams would want to see him pitch well before taking a chance on him. If he does, the competitive nature he showed when he was healthy would make him a find for a contender. After struggles in his first two starts with the Braves at the end of July, he did pitch seven quality innings — four hits, two runs, one walk — in a win against the Giants on Tuesday. Is that a sign of things to come or a blip on the screen?
DH/OF/1B/3B Aubrey Huff, Baltimore
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.
Huff has shown a revived bat this year, and can fill in at a number of positions. With the Orioles pushing to replenish their farm system, and owner Peter Angelos finally convinced to build an organization. Huff is the perfect player to dangle to add a prospect.
OF Juan Pierre, Los Angeles Dodgers
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2008 plus $10 million guaranteed in 2009 and 2010, and $8.5 million guaranteed in 2011.
In a perfect world, the Dodgers would probably prefer to unload Andruw Jones, who is guaranteed $15 million next year, but a team would really have to gamble on a free-agent push by Jones to be willing to take a chance on him considering his frightening physical condition and diminished production this year. Pierre is Pierre. He outworks and outhustles, but will never show power, plate patience or a strong arm, and that was known before the Dodgers gave him a five-year, $44 million deal. If the Dodgers would pick up half the salary that remains, Pierre could be of interest to several teams, even non-contenders this year who would like his persona in their building effort the next couple of years.
SS Edgar Renteria, Detroit
Contract situation: Roughly $2.25 million remaining on $9 million contract for 2008 plus $3 million buyout on $11 million option for 2009.
How in the world did the Tigers ever give up RHP Jair Jurrjens for Renteria, who turns 33 Thursday. His offense and defense are in decline, but an injury on a contender could create a feeling of desperation.
C Yorvit Torrealba, Colorado
Contract situation: Roughly $487,5000 remaining on $2.75 million contract for 2008 plus $3.5 million guaranteed in 2009 and a $500,000 buyout on a $4 million option for 2010.
No team was interested in Torrealba because of his contract in July. But it’s August. If a contender has a catcher go down for the season and needs a veteran catcher, where else is it going to turn? Torrealba figures to be the only proven catcher they can get. He did guide the Rockies staff down the stretch and into the World Series a year ago.
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Seattle
Contract situation: Roughly $2,462,500 remaining on $9.85 million contract for 2008 plus $10.35M salary for 2009.
The Mariners had grand ideas before the trading deadline, wanting several high-ceiling players and refusing to pick up any money. Then reality hit. Nobody pursued conversations. Now they can be realistic, look for a way to unload unwanted salary and find a contender that wants someone who has experience down the stretch and is willing to overlook his 23-39 record since joining Seattle in 2006.
OF Randy Winn, San Francisco
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2009 plus $8.25 million salary for 2009.
Giants wouldn’t mind moving Dave Roberts, too, but his $6.5 million annual salary that carries over to next year becomes a concern in light of the left knee problems that sidelined him from April 8 to July 22 this season. Winn provides an athletic 34-year-old who fits well in a clubhouse and can provide depth for a contender, but isn’t really a fit on a team undergoing a major youth movement.