Tejada, Piazza Hit Waiver Wire

[love_that_reefer]

Baltimore's Miguel Tejada and Oakland's Mike Piazza, two major stars mentioned in trade rumors during the summer, hit the waiver wire in the last week -- and one is now in a position to be dealt in August, while the other is not.

Tejada was claimed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox, who may be looking for a shortstop as they consider whether or not to pick up the 2008 option on current shortstop Juan Uribe, who is hitting .215 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs. But the Orioles and White Sox did not work out a deal to allow Tejada to go to Chicago. The Orioles will keep Tejada for the rest of the year, sources say.

When players are placed on waivers in August and are claimed, their current team has three options: work out a trade with the team that claimed the player; give the player to the team that made the claim without compensation; or withdraw the player from waivers. If a player is withdrawn from waivers in August, he cannot be placed on so-called trade waivers again, and that is apparently what is taking place with Tejada.

Piazza, hitting .292 with three homers for the Athletics, passed through waivers without being claimed, which means that Oakland can now trade the designated hitter/catcher to any team interested. Minnesota and the Angels briefly considered making deals for Piazza in the weeks and days leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

Buster Olney is a senior baseball writer for ESPN The Magazine

The Twins could use a guy like Piazza but don't think the Angels really need him. The M's might want to take a look at him too. The White Sox getting Tejada would have been nice to see.

[brewersfan19]

I saw that. I wonder who will be going after those (cough, cough) ANGELS.

[scarfire]

Piazza as a DH for the Twins? Last time they had Nevin through the same deal and he wasn't there. Like he wasn't nearly contributing at all with his tenure with the Twins. I hope it will not lead to the same thing with Piazza.

[love_that_reefer]

Comparing a future HOFer to Nevin isn't fair even if Piazza is at the end of his career. Twins need another bat.

[brewersfan19]

I agree reefer!

[A'sDiehard]

If Piazza goes to the Angels Billy better better bend those monkey ballers over the water cooler. All three of his HR's have come against Anaheim this year.

[Dam8610]

The White Sox getting Tejada would have been nice to see.

Yes it would have.

[scarfire]

Comparing a future HOFer to Nevin isn't fair even if Piazza is at the end of his career. Twins need another bat.

Nevin was at his end of his career.

[realmofotalk]

If Piazza goes to the Angels Billy better better bend those monkey ballers over the water cooler. All three of his HR's have come against Anaheim this year.

Send Piazza to the Angels and Billy can have Nathan Haynes back.