It doesn’t have the flash or pizzazz of the July 31st trade deadline, but the month of August proves that a team can be changed for the better in the latter stages of the season.
The Phillies are a team that has capitalized on the waiver trading system over the past few seasons. This year, there could be added importance in it as Ryan Howard looks likely to hit the disabled list and the bullpen continues to struggle. Can they find a relatively cheap, relatively helpful piece to a puzzle that is rapidly falling apart? They are still very much in the playoff hunt, so a solid move now can hold the fort until Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, and Ryan Howard are completely healthy.
One problem: the money factor. Many of the players who hit waivers in August have hefty contracts, meaning the Phillies would have to take on added payroll. It’s not a given they can do that as they have already gone north of $140 million with the Roy Oswalt deal. Still, there is room to look.
Here is a list of some big-time waiver trades that the Phillies have made recently.
- 2008: RP Scott Eyre acquired from Chicago
- 2008: OF Matt Stairs acquired from Toronto
- 2007: 1B/OF Russell Branyan acquired from Cleveland
- 2006: SP Jamie Moyer acquired from Seattle
- 2006: 1B/OF Jeff Conine acquired from Baltimore
- 2006: RP Ryan Franklin traded to Cincinnati
- 2005: OF Michael Tucker acquired from San Francisco
