So here we are, a week after the roller coaster of rumors that was the 2015 MLB trade deadline. We saw the Dodgers make moves, trading what we thought was our 3rd baseman of the future, to bolster our rotation in what looks like an excellent trade. However, there are many Dodger fans that just weren’t excited about all that happened, they wanted more.

Don’t fret, there is another deadline, and your favorite Los Angeles team can still make moves.

This deadline, like the last, is a chance for teams to deal players and acquire others, just utterly more complicated. The “non waiver trade deadline” was simple, just teams negotiating to trade players for other players, often with money and draft picks included. The “waiver trade deadline,” adds another layer of sophistication. Here is how it works:

 If a team wants to trade “x player” away, they must first place him on waivers, indicating that they want to move him from the team. Once placed on waivers, another team can claim this player. Indicating that they want to acquire “x player”.

This waiver step is important because, unlike the the previous deadline, placing “x player” on waivers gives that team all of the power. Once “x player” is claimed, the team that wants to trade him has one of three options over the pre-set 48 hour time limit:

• Option 1: That team may revoke “x player” from the waivers, nullifying any trade actions that had been previously put in place. If the team trying to trade “x player” dislikes the team, or the move, for any reason at all, they have this option. This move may only be done once however, and if the same “x player” is put on waivers and claimed again, he may not be revoked. Often a team will put a player on waivers that they have no intention of trading, just to entertain offers and see how his value is holding up around the league, as well as simple bluffs to keep other teams guessing. Lots of big named players will go on revokable waivers in the month of August for this reason alone.
• Option 2: That team has 48 hours to work out a traditional trade exclusively with the team that claimed him. This gives an advantage to the team that claims “x player,” because there is no other team that they have to worry about making a better, or more enticing offer. If multiple teams claim “x player”, then he is connected to the team in the same league (National or American) with the worst record. If no team from the same league claims the player, he will be connected to the team with the overall worst record.
• Option 3: That team may release “x player” to the claiming team for nothing more that a waivers fee. This is sometimes done because a team a) does not believe that “x player” has value beyond his current status, and a working out a trade would not make sense, or b) wants to release “x player” because they are currently paying out an overly lucrative contract for a player of decreased value because of injury or some other circumstance. This introduces the risk of claiming an overly expensive player off of waivers, because the opposing party can send that contract to you, and be completely free of it.

There is also one other scenario: If “x player” is put on waivers, and not claimed by any team after 48 hours, he is noted to have “cleared waivers” and may now be dealt to any team in the league, with the same rules applying as the non-waiver, July 31st trade deadline. These players that have in fact cleared waivers may also be attached to deals where another player is claimed, making for some very convoluted paperwork.

FAQ

1. So who is available, and who is already on waivers?

Well, to answer that quickly and easily, a TON of players. The waiver situation changes daily, with big names being dangled around by the hour. In the last few days, teams like the Red Sox have put Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval on waivers, along with multiple others.

2. Why does this matter to the Dodgers, and who could they wind up with?

It tends to be a little less predictable who teams are going to get at the deadline, because of the volatility of the market and the time constraints surrounding the waiver system. However, I would be surprised if the Dodgers did not land more help for the bullpen, as it is still a remaining area of concern.

Also, while the Dodgers front office has tended to stay away from big moves, a player that keeps coming up as a potential Dodgers target is James Shields. Shields was signed in the off season by the Padres and has been utterly disappointing this season. He has made 23 starts this season and posted a 3.74 ERA, which is far above his career mark. He has $65 MM remaining on his contract and the Padres are looking to cut their losses and trade him. One of shields biggest problems this year is his increasing home run rates, which could decease, and may have only spiked because of some bad luck. Shields has been known to have been an above average innings eater, and would be a great addition to the Dodgers rotation.