Goodbye Jim Thome and Jason Kubel

[Big Dave2]

I kind of agree with thaoneguy the last move to the National league with the Dodgers was a disaster and if he's picked up by the Phillies he'll be a pinch-hitter against righties is all. More than likely he won't effect things much if at all. I agree it's a cheap way to pick up a ring but we all would gladly take the chance to do it so it's tough to blame Thome if he does.

In reality, That's what he came here to be. We already had an every day DH in Kubel, a guy that should have only been a DH in Delmon Young, and a part time DH in Joe Mauer. Thome did not come here expecting to be the every day DH by any means.

[SkunkedAgain]

+1 Big Dave

[Matt S.]

Just heard both were claimed.

Now to wait and see by who and if a deal is reached.

[hunter76]

I am not opposed to letting Thome go. Give the guy a chance to get a ring. No one in baseball deserves one more than him. Best case scenerio is that he gets one this year and maybe we can resign him next year.

[B. Amish]

new rumor: liriano, slowey, perkins, and nathan went on waivers yesterday.

[Big Dave2]

ESPN report: Thome, Kubel claimed on trade waiversUpdated: August 24, 2011 - 1:16 PM

. A source has told ESPN that Twins outfielder Jason Kubel and designated hitter Jim Thome have been claimed on trade waivers, according to a report on ESPN.com.

The web site did not say which team made the claim.

If true, the Twins have 48 hours to work out a trade or pull the player from waivers. A team can also choose to let the player leave without compensation.

[Brian-Mn]

Waivers are a way of doing business in baseball. I can't think of one Twin I wouldn't put on waivers. You use waivers vs the trade deadline because..............if a player gets a whiff of you trying to deal him, but you can't, then you have a disgruntled player. On waivers you stick him out there, if you don't like the deal or the player doesn't want to go you can pull him back. No hard feelings.

Young is not a player to use for or against a trade / waiver argument. Nobody wants him, including Detroit. He will fill a void for them and hopefully he catches fire for a couple of weeks. Then they gave up a couple of maybes for a chance of him getting hot. Remember he cleared Chicago and Cleveland before Detroit got a chance. He was a #1 draft choice that the Rays and Twins both gave up on. You want Milton Bradley? I'm sure he's available with just a tad bit more baggage then Delmon.

[Matt S.]

So how does the process work?

Once someone is placed on waivers do teams in the division get first go, then the league, then the other league?

Or just Division, then up for grabs?

[thatoneguy]

In reality, That's what he came here to be. We already had an every day DH in Kubel, a guy that should have only been a DH in Delmon Young, and a part time DH in Joe Mauer. Thome did not come here expecting to be the every day DH by any means.

At the start of the season Gardy said he expected 250-300 at bats from Thome. We knew he wouldn't be an everyday player, but they clearly needed him for more then PH duty.

[thatoneguy]

So how does the process work?

Once someone is placed on waivers do teams in the division get first go, then the league, then the other league?

Or just Division, then up for grabs?

Reverse order by record, first in that team's league, then in the other league. I think.

[jwmiller33]

Reverse order by record, first in that team's league, then in the other league. I think.

That's correct. All the teams from the team's league are put into one long list and you put them in order by the W-L records, ranked 1 thru 14 (AL). Teams then put in their "claim" for the player who was put on waivers and the rights to the player go to the lowest ranked team (the team with the worst record). If no team in the player's league claims him, then the claiming team with the weakest record in the other league gets preference.

The waiver process was put in place so teams at the top of the division cannot unilaterally load their clubs for the stretch run. It is a system which favors the teams behind in the standings. Teams with lesser records have the first opportunity to improve themselves and can also block better teams from making deals.

Word on the street is the White Sox put in a claim for both Thome and Kubel. By doing this, they are "blocking" Detroit and Cleveland from getting both of these players, regardless of whether or not they actually work out a trade for both of these guys.

Another important note: Thome has a no trade clause that he would have to waive in order for this whole trade to go through

EDIT: changes made after some help from good ol Wikipedia

[B. Amish]

That's somewhat correct. It's the same way waivers work in Fantasy Baseball/Football (if any of you are familiar with that). However, you don't seperate the two leagues. All the teams from both leagues are put into one long list and you put them in order by the W-L records, ranked 1 thru 30. Teams then put in their "claim" for the player who was put on waivers and the rights to the player go to the lowest ranked team (the team with the worst record).

wrong. american league teams have first chance at players in the american league. if no team in the american league claimed thome or kubel, then it goes by record in the NL.

if the yankees were the only american league team to claim thome or kubel, then they get the claim, even if every single NL team claimed them.

[jwmiller33]

if the yankees were the only american league team to claim thome or kubel, then they get the claim, even if every single NL team claimed them.

The Yankees weren't the only team to put in a claim for these players, and I'm pretty sure they didn't even put in a claim. The White Sox claimed both Thome and Kubel and now the clubs have 48 hours from the claim to work out a deal. If no trade is worked out (or if Thome doesn't waive his no trade clause) then we can pull them back to our team for the rest of the year or send them to the claiming teams for no compensation.

[B. Amish]

i was being hypothetical trying to explain the waiver process. but thanks anyways.

[jwmiller33]

ahh I see.. I misread, my bad

[B. Amish]

what stinks is there's a good chance we'll get squat for thome, because if he wants to go to the phillies, the twins will have to release him so he can sign there.

[jwmiller33]

Not going to lie, that would be pretty sweet if Thome signed with the Phillies! I am rooting for Philly this post season anyways. I really would like to see Cliff Lee and Halladay in the World Series. It's not too often you see 3 Cy Young candidates on the same pitching staff (Lee, Doc and Hamels)

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox put in the claims for Thome and Kubel simply because they didn't want to see either of those guys in a Tigers or Indians jersey down the stretch. From a business perspective, you can't really blame them for doing so. It would be nice to work out a trade and get a prospect or two back tho

[Hoyt4]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox put in the claims for Thome and Kubel simply because they didn't want to see either of those guys in a Tigers or Indians jersey down the stretch. From a business perspective, you can't really blame them for doing so. It would be nice to work out a trade and get a prospect or two back tho

[jwmiller33]

I just heard the Sox only claimed Kubel. The Indians were the ones who put in the claim for Thome

[B. Amish]

thome traded to indians

[Matt S.]

thome traded to indians

So much for that ring he wanted.

[bassnbucks]

I just hope Cuddy is back next year. That guy plays hard no matter how far out of it they are.

[Big Dave2]

Twins send Jim Thome back to Cleveland

. Designated hitter Jim Thome has been traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named later, a Twins official has confirmed. The deal takes Thome away from the 55-75 Twins and up to the fringes of the American League Central race. Cleveland. at 63-64, is 61/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the division race.

UPDATE:The Twins have now released a statement announcing the deal.

The Indians need offense, with designated hitter Travis Hafner’s season in danger because of a strained tendon in his right foot. Thome, who turns 41 on Saturday, can step right into Cleveland’s everyday lineup.

Thome returns to the team he broke in with and slugged 334 home runs over 12 seasons.

Armed with a no-trade clause in his $3 million contract, Thome had the power to veto any deal he didn’t like.

There was speculation that Thome would veto any deal and force the Twins to release him, where he could turn down more attempts to claim him so he could eventually sign with the Phillies, a near lock to make the playoffs. Instead, he heads back to Cleveland, where he was on Tribe teams that lost the World Series in 1995 and 1997.

As soon as Thome hit home run No. 600 on Aug. 15 in Detroit, speculation started on if Thome would be traded. Thome spoke highly of his time with the Twins, but also pointed out that his career might not be complete without a World Series title - or at least a shot at one.

With the Twins far out of the picture, Thome's days here seemed to be numbered.

"When you have gone to two World Series and you haven't accomplished it, it eats at you," he said at the time, "and that's one thing that is still there. Is the next chapter [retirement] out there? That's what you want to find out."

The Twins will announce a move to fill Thome's spot on the roster tomorrow,. With Michael Cuddyer and Joe Mauer banged up, and the Twins needing a rested pitcher IT COULD BE ANYONE!!!!!!

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Cool...even more no name losers will be called up. I wonder if Bill Smith is trying to create the worst team in the AL? Oh wait, we already pretty much are.

[harvey lee]

Thanks Big Jim amd Jason for the games.

We will get about zero again. Just giving players away, hopefully we sign Cuddy with the savings and go after some pitching.

[paceman]

Good Luck Big Jim. Your going to need it in Cleveland. They won't catch Detroit.

[Harmonica Bear]

See ya, bye. It was a nice run. Thanks for the little bit of history.

[B. Amish]

well the thome deal is final and the twins didn't get a player in return, they got $20,000 from the indians.

ouch!

[mrklean]

that stinks

[paceman]

That sucks. What a stupid deal.......