Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reports that Kendrys Morales has been claimed off waivers by an unknown team.
Kendrys Morales has been claimed on trade waivers, source says. If a trade is coming, it will happen this week. @FOXSports1
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 26, 2013
It is not known which team was awarded the claim on Morales.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 26, 2013
Whoever the team is, they’d have two days to work out a trade for the first baseman. We know that the Pirates were linked to Morales before the trade deadline in July. That was back when Seattle held onto all of their players for some reason. It’s not a guarantee that Morales could fall to the Pirates. He would have to pass through the entire American League and most of the National League. I could see the Orioles or Yankees claiming him, since both teams need corner infield/DH help.
If Morales made it past those two teams, then I could see him falling to the Pirates, since none of the other contending teams need first base help. Morales is a much better option at first base than Justin Morneau. I would be surprised if he did fall past the Yankees or Orioles, so I wouldn’t pencil him in the Pirates’ future lineup just yet. This is why you don’t rush to trade for Morneau well before the August 31st deadline. There might be better options who become available, and who you actually have a shot at landing.
I’ll update this when the team is known.
UPDATE THURSDAY 11:04 AM: No word on who the team was, but Jon Heyman reports that the window to trade Morales has passed, which means he will remain with Seattle.
Kendrys Morales wasnt traded within 2-day period after being claimed on revocable waivers. will remain with #mariners.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 29, 2013
