The Los Angeles Angels are closing their season out by placing a number of players on waivers this week, including the surprising inclusion of veteran starter Lucas Giolito in moves that the team hopes can save them some money.
Alongside Giolito, the Angels also placed relievers Matt Moore, Reynaldo Lopez and Dominic Leone, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk all on waivers, in which the Angels essentially will give away the players for a $50,000 waiver fee and salary relief.
Teams can now place claims on the players between now and the expiration of the waiver period on Thursday with the team with the worst record having priority in the waiver claim order, with all claimed players will be eligible for the postseason.
If all six Angels players are claimed, the team stands to save around $7 million in salary over the season’s final month which could push the team’s payroll beneath the $233 million competitive-balance threshold, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
If the Angels are able to do so, they would be in line to recoup a second-round draft pick as compensation should superstar Shohei Ohtani opt to sign with a new team during this winter’s free agency period.
“It’s front office decisions that don’t affect our room,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “We’ve got to go out and win some games and play the games right. Business as usual. We’ve got to go out and play.”
For now, players such as Giolito will have to wait to see how things unfold, with their eyes likely on MLB journalists and news wires for up to date information.
“Thursday is when it all goes down,” Giolito said. “Until then, I’m here. We’ll see what happens after Thursday.”
