D-backs P Garland clears waivers

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Diamondbacks right-hander Jon Garland has cleared trade waivers, three major-league sources told FOXSports.com on Wednesday night.

Garland is among the best starters currently available on the trade market, one source said. That pool is relatively small, because it generally includes high-salaried pitchers on teams that are already out of contention.

Garland is 6-11 with a 4.42 ERA in 25 starts with Arizona this year. Despite his statistics, he has some appeal because of his postseason experience with the White Sox in 2005. He has a 3.60 ERA in six starts after the All-Star break.

The size of his contract likely kept other teams from claiming him on waivers, and it could prevent him from being dealt.

Garland is earning $6.25 million this year, with a $10 million mutual option for 2010. He will receive a $2.5 million buyout if the team's share of the option is declined.

So, at this point, there's a minimum of $4 million left on his deal. Many teams are wary of adding that much money this late in a season.

 

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Mets looking to unload Wagner

If Billy Wagner's return to New York this weekend is nothing more than a glorified audition, the Mets are already pushing the paperwork that will enable them to trade him.

According to a major league source, the Mets placed Wagner on trade waivers Wednesday. That means those waivers would expire at 1 p.m. EDT Friday, hours before Wagner is scheduled to be activated and make his long-awaited return from Tommy John Surgery.

It's unlikely Wagner would be claimed, since any team claiming him would be on the hook for approximately $2.7 million of his $8.5 million salary for this year, plus a $1 million buyout of his option for 2010. So if, as expected, he goes unclaimed, the Mets would be able to trade him to any interested club.

If the 38-year-old lefthander is claimed, they would have until next Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 25) to work out a deal with the team that claims him.

With Francisco Rodriguez under contract long-term and Wagner about to become a free agent, the Mets are expected to work aggressively to try to trade their former closer before the Aug. 31 waiver trading deadline. In the current economic climate, it's also likely that the Mets will have to eat at least some of the money left on Wagner's contract if they hope to get a useful prospect in return.

 

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The #Mets have released Livan Hernandez to make room for Billy Wagner on the roster.