A strange waiver claim

We’re used to seeing August deals when players have passed through waivers. What you don’t see often in August is a player being claimed off of waivers without any compensation.

Wednesday, the Dodgers picked up Esteban Loaiza from Oakland off waivers. The Dodgers are responsible for the remainder of Loaiza’s salary, including $7 million next year. But there’s no prospects going to Oakland, no players or anything. It’s a waiver move, not a trade.

Loaiza has only made two starts this year coming off of an injury, so he’s very unproven. But the Dodgers aren’t exactly giving up anything, other than money, which Dodger owner Frank McCourt probably has tons of. They probably figure he can’t be worse than their current back end of the rotation, so why not take a gamble? Dodger fans should hope that this doesn’t mean the team is already penciling Loaiza into his 2008 starting rotation — who knows how well Loaiza might hold up over a full season. But this is a good move for them trying to win this year.

The A’s look very cheap by not getting anything back. But given their small-market, low-payroll needs, this might be exactly what they needed. Loaiza is cheaper than a lot of league-average starters have gone for lately, but maybe the A’s really need that money for other, better players.

Has there ever been a win, win waiver claim?