Major League Baseball

Giants' waiver options are slim

Published Aug. 16, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

Alfonso Soriano indicated to Chicago Cubs beat writers on Wednesday that he would not waive his no-trade rights for the San Francisco Giants.

Other external options will be available to the Giants if they seek to replace left fielder Melky Cabrera, who on Wednesday was suspended 50 games for violating baseball’s drug policy.

But the supply figures to be limited.

Consider the New York Mets’ Scott Hairston and Philadelphia Phillies’ Juan Pierre, outfielders whose names surfaced in trade discussions before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Both Hairston and Pierre have yet to be placed on waivers, according to major-league sources. But a team that trails the Giants in the overall NL standings – a team such as the Arizona Diamondbacks – likely would block both players.

Hairston is owed just over $300,000 for the rest of the season, Pierre just over $200,000 – relatively small sums for a major-league team to absorb, if necessary. But talks regarding the two probably would not even get that far. Neither the Mets nor the Phillies would want to dump such veterans and receive nothing in return, and likely would pull the players back if they were claimed and no trade could be arranged.

Soriano, due to the size of his contract – annual salaries of $18 million through 2014 – better fits the profile of a player who normally clears waivers. But Soriano has a full no-trade clause, and the Cubs may prefer to move him this offseason, when they could involve more teams – including some that would be on Soriano’s actual wish list.

In other waiver news, the Seattle Mariners have yet to put right-hander Kevin Millwood through the process, according to a source. The Boston Red Sox remain largely quiet, perhaps waiting to see if they can get back into contention.

The Red Sox, according to various reports, have placed at least four players on waivers - outfielder Carl Crawford and infielder Nick Punto on Aug. 1 and catcher Kelly Shoppach and shortstop Mike Aviles on Aug. 10. Crawford, Punto and Aviles reportedly cleared. The Mets claimed Shoppach and then acquired him in a trade.

Most other Sox players, including right-hander Josh Beckett, have yet to be placed on waivers, sources said. Beckett can veto any claim or trade as a player with 10 years of service, the last five with the same team.

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