The MLB trading deadline has passed, but that doesn't mean players can't get traded in August, as the waiver wire deadline extends through the summer and could allow some major players to get moved, including Hunter Pence, Cliff Lee, Alex Rios and Michael Young.
The waiver deadline is a bit more complicated than the July 31 deadline and while usually big named players aren't moved, there has been a precedence for that and could happen this season, as teams mostly stood pat at the deadline and now will have a better chance to assess where they are. Players on the 40-man roster must pass through revocable waivers and if a team puts a claim in, a deal could be worked out, or the team can pull the player back.
Alex Rios previously has been traded on the waiver process before in 2009 to the white Sox from the Blue Jays and that could happen to him again this year. The Blue Jays wanted to get rid of his contract and the Sox wanted a bat, so he was acquired as the team allowed it to happen without a trade involved, since they wanted to get rid of the contract. Team can use the waiver wire to block deals as well, since it goes in order or record sometimes division rivals will do that.
Some other players that have been acquired past the deadline includes the Nationals with Kurt Suzuki, the Orioles and Joe Saunders as well as Stephen Drew and Aaron Hill, who was swapped for Kelly Johnson. Some options this year that could fit into the mold of players that have had mediocre performances and bad contracts that could move include catcher Carlos Ruiz, shortstop Alexi Ramirez, Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks with his large contract, as well as Adam Dunn, young, Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse from the Mariners.
While these deals may not go down, there is a good chance that the waiver deadline will be more active than the trading deadline, as many teams stood pat to try and get into the wild card race.
