How Did Berkman Clear Waivers?
Lance Berkman reportedly cleared waivers last week. How he went through the waiver process unclaimed is befuddling.
Certain noteworthy players pass through waivers based on a few factors. Some prove too costly in salary or years. Some may make it known they intend to invoke their no trade clauses. Others are viewed as risky and injury prone. The remaining players aren’t great enough to justify the acquisition cost, especially with a mere month remaining.
The Big Puma fits none of these descriptions. Determining why no team submitted a claim proves to be quite the tall task.
Signed to a one year, $8 million contract, Berkman’s salary isn’t at all prohibitive to the various teams that should have expressed interest. With a month left on the deal he is owed approximately $1.3 million. Though he spent parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons on the shelf, he is healthy right now. Further, those past ailments weren’t so concerning to justify no team submitting a claim.
Berkman cannot veto trades, as his current deal lacks the provision, and his previously attained 10 and 5 rights don’t follow him to each new destination. Lastly, his performance this season merits a slew of interest. This is a superstar playing at a superstar level.
He currently boasts a gaudy .289/.405/.570 slash line and a .407 wOBA in a down offensive environment. Only Ryan Braun, Joey Votto, Matt Kemp and teammate Matt Holliday have outproduced his weighted on base average. Berkman is striking out a career low 15.8 percent of the time, while walking at a clip above his career average. In fact, his walk rate is mere hundredths behind Joey Votto’s league-leading mark. The last time Berkman produced an isolated power this high — .281 — both Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were Astros teammates. Per wRC+, which adjusts for league and park, this is Berkman’s best offensive season since 2001 — his first full year in the majors.
Combine this upper echelon offense with the fact that he isn’t slowing down — .418 wOBA in July, and a .382 wOBA in August — and Berkman is truly having a tremendously valuable season. His fielding leaves much to be desired, but he likely isn’t as bad as his -11 UZR suggests. Sure, he’s a below average fielder, and hasn’t played the outfield since 2007, but his offense greatly outweighs that deficiency.
The most interesting aspect here is that the reasons justifying a lack of a claim deal more with the Cardinals than other teams. The reasons should have, if anything, prevented them from even making him available. For example, Berkman currently projects as a Type A free agent. If a team submitted a claim and a trade ensued, and he then declined arbitration from the acquiring team and re-signed with St. Louis, the Cardinals would have to forfeit a first round draft pick — under the current CBA, at least.
Now it becomes imperative to extract a prospect of value in return, or else the trade ends up looking like Berkman and a first round pick for whomever the Cardinals acquire. The value of that package must be greater than one strictly featuring Berkman or it becomes tougher for the Cardinals to maximize their return. But this is a problem the Cardinals have to deal with, not an interested team that simply had to click a button to express interest in the all star outfielder.
If the Cardinals felt that a deal wasn’t likely given these circumstances, or that dealing Berkman would impact his desire to return next season, they shouldn’t have placed him on waivers to begin with. But they did, and he was available to the other 29 teams, several of whom would have benefited from Berkman’s presence. The Angels and Giants come to mind as teams who would utilize him to make a push for a playoff spot. The Phillies and Braves could have used the added depth to bolster their odds of succeeding in the playoffs. The Rangers need a starting outfielder for three weeks with the Nelson Cruz injury.
At least five teams should have been interested, and perhaps more. Yet, in the end, Berkman managed to pass through waivers. He can still be traded but that isn’t the issue here. Rather, the issue is why teams that should have had interest forewent claiming him. Players with his numbers don’t typically come cheap but he doesn’t make much this year, relatively speaking. Even if a trade didn’t work out, there was little risk in submitting a claim.
If the Cardinals pull him back, so be it. If they let the claiming team absorb Berkman, then they made a bad business decision, but the acquiring team gets a top-tier player and presumably a first round pick when he returns to St. Louis next year. If a trade was worked out, the acquiring team still brings in its all-star. Deals can still be made now that he has cleared waivers, but not submitting a claim feels like a missed opportunity for certain teams from a process standpoint, given that nobody could have known with certainty that he would go unclaimed.
Eric is an accountant and statistical analyst from Philadelphia. He also covers the Phillies at Phillies Nation and can be found here on Twitter.
I was thinking this same thing about a much lesser example, the Reds’ Bill Bray. I came to the conclusion that teams just didn’t want to waste their time filling out paperwork and possibly having calls on guys who they are 99.9% sure will just get pulled back.
I thought after a player cleared waivers he could be traded to any team. I could be mistaken but doesn’t the possibility that he’ll be moved still exist?
This is absolutely true.
Yes, if you pass through waivers you can be dealt to any team. The issue I’m raising in the post is that certain teams should have had enough interest to avoid waiting for him to fall through, since it wasn’t a guarantee that he would go unclaimed.
I’m not suggesting that your article is incorrect. I’m as surprised as anyone that he went unclaimed. My question was in regards to your assertion that Berkman will finish the season in a Cardinals uniform. Seems like a trade is still possible and with him being a type-A free agent could even happen in September for a team to get a couple cheap draft picks as compensation for even a week of his services.
Ah, I thought I mentioned in there that a trade could still happen, but probably wouldn’t given the whole playoff roster setting thingamabob as well as his desire to remain with the Cards. Unless that was just in my head!
You are correct. Having cleared waivers he can be traded to any team. I would think this means a trade is more likely than if he had been claimed.
I disagree.
If a team wanted him enough to trade something of value, why wouldn’t they claim him?
How do we know for certain no claims were placed and then deals fell through? Just because no one leaked it on twitter?
Because it’s been reported that he cleared waivers, and can be traded to anyone. That’s different than being claimed and no deal being made (in which case, he couldn’t be traded now).
Some teams put every player on the roster on waivers. That way, there’s no fear of bruised egos if a player finds out he was placed on waivers. Helps to disguise the GM’s plan and targets, as well. Maybe the Cardinals do this.
Teams certainly knew that, if Berkman were claimed, he’d simply be pulled back from waivers. Why bother making a claim at all? What if your incumbent 1Bman or RFer finds out about it and puts up a fuss?
What if a team behind you, perhaps one that you’re competing with, puts in a claim for him and it turns out that StL doesn’t pull him back.
IMO, you put in a claim because it’s a valuable player for a cheap price. If your players don;t see and appreciate that, then that’s on them. That lets their peers know where they’re mind is really at.
You put in a claim, and force StL to respond. If they pull back, no sweat. It’s not like the GMis filling out the forms in triplicate. He’s telling an intern or assistant to submit a claim on Berkman.
If I’m the Cubs, I submit a claim just to be a dick about it … and block any chance that StL might be able to work out a deal for a prospect from a desperate for offense organization like SFG.
I agree with you, that’s what I’d do as GM. But I was just trying to provide a rational explanation for what might’ve happened with Berkman.
Also, it’d be scary if interns had the authority to make waiver claims. Rogue trading!
There’s also the possibility of a “gentleman’s agreement” among teams that no one would claim him so that he could have some say in his destination. GMs (in all sports) do sometimes offer special treatment to veteran players that are loyal/are clubhouse leaders/have never won a ring.
I think this used to be the standard that most GMs applied. In recent years that seems to have gone out the window and I’m not sure who is to blame/credit.
Competitive sports really don’t work this way. For example, if the Brewers pass up a claim on Berkman so that he can go where he wants and the Giants end up trading for him and winning the West, that seriously hurts the chances that the Brewers are in the series since that would be their first round matchup.
When was this the standard? Not with a player hitting like Berkman is. Maybe with a washed up old has been who is looking for a piggy back ride on a contender. Not a Type A caliber player who will have an impact on a playoff club. Perfect example is Jim Thome. I don’t remember if he passed through wavers or if the Indians claimed him, but he would be the type of guy people might let pass because he’s really not an impact player, so who cares where he goes.
Two playoff teams out of the NL East means there is ZERO chance the NL central and west teams play each other in the first round as teams within the same division cannot play each other in the LDS
In fact unless the Brewers are looking forward to an eventual maatchup with the Phillies in the NLCS, I’d think the exact opposite is true… Berkman to the Giants would improve the chances of them upsetting the Phils.
Thome was claimed..
Seems kind of lazy. It doesn’t cost them money to claim the player if the other team pulls him back and even if you didn’t want him why wouldn’t you put a claim in to block your competitor? In a game where anything can happen the safe play is to put the claim in, even if you think you have no shot to actual acquire the player, and prevent. Is it possible he was overlooked? Any other reason other then incompetence seems crazy to me.
“However, this is a problem the Cardinals have to deal with, not an interested team that simply had to click a button to express interest in the all star outfielder.”
Thanks for providing an amusing image of GM’s all sitting at their computers managing their rosters as Yahoo fantasy leagues, clicking “Add Player” for the waiver process. I’m imagining Reagins had chosen to add Berkman and was about to select Jeff Mathis as the player to drop when Scioscia burst into the room and knocked his netbook to the floor.
lol nice
If the Cardinals felt that a deal wasn’t likely given these circumstances, or that dealing Berkman would impact his desire to return next season, they shouldn’t have placed him on waivers to begin with.
This makes no sense; of course they should have put him on waivers. If they can work out a deal to their liking, they’re better off. If they can’t, they’re no worse off.
Exactly. It makes sense to a rational actor to put every player on waivers every year.
If the Rays put Longoria on waivers and the Royals offer Hosmer, Moustakas, Duffy, Montgomery, and Alex Gordon for him, you take the offer. Now, this is is never going to happen, but there’s no failure in seeing what’s there.
Unbelievable that the Giants didn’t pick him up to play first base.
What with speed being of increased importance this year, obviously teams were scared off by Berkmans 0% success rate (in 4 attempts) to steal a base. Someone give this man a red light!
At least two of Berkman’s CS this year have come on busted hit and run plays his genius manager called for. I’d not be surprised if it was all four.
And not that long ago I was pointing out how much better a base stealer Berkman was than Theriot.
Detroit, Texas, and the Braves could use him. He’d definitely solidify Detroit and Atlanta’s lineups… the Rangers only would need him for three weeks until Cruz comes back.
The Rangers could also use him at 1B in place of Moreland.
Why do you think Berkman’s defense “likely isn’t as bad” as his UZR suggests, Eric? I would expect Berkman to be among the game’s worst outfielders.
Your title should have had 2 ‘??’s, to indicate you weren’t really going to answer the question, but were rather asking ‘how the heck did this happen??’ I am curious as to how. This is something maybe an ex-GM, or perhaps a current one speaking off the record, could answer for us.
Ah, thank you for explaining the correct grammar there. For some reason, the double question mark isn’t in my stylebook.
I thought, given the title, you might actually provide some kind of explanation for why this happened in the article.
the explanation is inexplicable
Even some of the possible explanations, like “league-wide GM’s gentleman’s agreement”, or the Cards were still in contention when he was placed on waivers so teams weren’t paying close attention to who they put up…
http://iamkeithhernandez.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/moustachioed-juan-pierre.jpg
I was wondering the same thing about David Wright.
David Wright was reportedly claimed but the Mets immediately pulled him back.
I’m pretty sure he was claimed by the Rockies.
Just going off mlbtraderumors:
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@SI_JonHeyman
David wright was actually not claimed by the rockies, or anyone else. Wright cleared waivers awhile back
The situation is truly puzzling. Heck, even a cellar dweller team should have thrown a waiver claim on him and offered a them minimal prospect in return for Berkman riding the pine for a few weeks and giving them Type A compensation.
The Indians sure could use him in OF or 1B. No idea why they wouldn’t attempt to claim him.
If you are the Angels, wouldn’t you put in a claim to keep the Rangers from plugging a pretty big hole? Worst case scenario for the Angels is they get Berkman and make a run at the West with the perfect excuse to park Vernon Wells on the bench until 2012. Oh no! Not that! Anything but that!
I’m going to go out on a limb and so Vernon Wells out performs Berkman the rest of the year.
*cue the banjo*
“Jus’ Vernon and Lance and you and meeeeeeeeeeeee! Out on a limb in the balsa wood tree!”
Team A: “What, you didn’t claim Berkman?”
Team B: “Huh? I thought you were going to claim him so I didn’t bother even starting the paperwork. What about you guys?”
Team C: “I heard he was available but I never thought…you know. Well crud.”
I was wondering the same thing about David Wright. Obviously the odds of getting him from the Mets are extremely low, but why not put in a claim just in case? You never know what’ll happen, and every team can fit him into their line-up for this year and next year.
Yeah I was surprised by this one as well.
The gentlemen’s agreement used to be, “you don’t claim mine, then I won’t claim yours”. Maybe the Cards sent a group email around ‘reMIND!ing’ everyone of that.
Richie, yes and no — the gentlemen’s agreement still exists, but it doesn’t have as much to do with these waivers as it does for optional waivers, which is how Scott Mathieson was DFAd by the Phillies twice, and then re-instituted on the 40-man roster a few days later, temporarily freeing up roster spots. When a player has options remaining, he is exposed to optional waivers to be removed from the 40-man. These are revocable, however, so if a team claimed him, he would be pulled back. But there is an unspoken agreement among teams to NOT claim these players so everyone can utilize the loophole.
Thank you for the info, Eric.
Those are optional assignment waivers, and they aren’t a means to remove a player from the 40-man roster. The issue is that, if its been 3+ years since a player was first called up to the majors, he needs to pass through these waivers before he can be optioned. It doesn’t remove him from the 40-man, it’s just a necessary step before a veteran can be optioned.
Having said that, you’re entirely right about the gentleman’s agreement. Scott Atchison (2011, 2010) and JJ Hardy (2009) have also passed through unscathed.
Yirmiyahu, generally you are correct. Optional waivers are what players must be placed on if they have options remaining, in order to be demoted. However, they can also be used as a roster loophole, as the Phillies have twice done with Scott Mathieson. They designated him for assignment, but because he had options left, he was placed on optional waivers, not irrevocable waivers. This opened up a 40-man roster spot for a few days to give them room for another player instead of putting someone on the DL. It’s a loophole to remove someone from the 40-man. Optional waivers in their truest form are not used to remove someone from the 40-man, but in the way I was describing to Richie, they are.
Perhaps the player’s pedestrian performance in pinstripes last year is a plausible explanation, at least among AL teams?
Yes, I’m sure Alex Anthopoulos and Theo Epstein failed to claim Lance Berkman off of waivers because of his 123 mediocre plate appearances with the Yankees last season, ignoring his .966 OPS this season and his .955 OPS over his career.
How is Berkman not an Angel yet?
So what would a realistic trade package look like for Berkman at this point? Seems unlikely a deal gets done since it has to be completed in the next two days though, right?
The Braves might have cost themselves a World Series victory by not claiming Berkman. Yes, the offense looks better since Chipper got healthier and they picked up Bourn, but right now no one in their right mind would pick them over the Phillies in a head-to-head matchup. Berkman would have made that lineup extremely dangerous as a power bat who is also a switch-hitter.
One possible explanation is that St. Louis made known to all teams that its asking price, if Berkman were claimed, would be prohibitively astronomical, but that its asking price, if Berkman were unclaimed, would be fairly reasonable. St. Louis’ incentive in this scenario is to ensure itself a bidding war for Berkman’s services. In other words, St. Louis effectively refused to negotiate in good faith with any team that claimed Berkman off waivers, and all teams that are somewhat interested in obtaining Berkman (possibly all contending teams) would rather have some shot at acquiring him than no shot, even if it means that one of their competitors gets him.
Having said all of that, it still doesn’t really make any sense to me that nobody put in a claim.
I think the Giants didn’t claim him becasue they still think Belt can do the job and a lot cheaper. He can’t be any worse than Huff.
I really think the only 2 teams that had alot of reason to put a claim in on Berkman were the Angels and Giants, to keep him away from the Rangers and DBacks, respectively. Any other team, I could see them valuing a norm (“don’t pee on a fellow GM’s waiver”) over a likely-useless-in-the-end claim.
Why the Angels and Giants didn’t bother, well …
I think this may be missing the big point. When he was on waivers, the Cards were in the race – there was NO WAY they were going to deal Berkman, so if a team had claimed him, they would NOW be out of luck. But since no one claimed him, and the Cards are out of the race, that same team now has an opportunity to get him. So it did make sens to NOT claim him.
That only makes sense if the team knew that he would clear waivers. But they had no way of knowing that every single team would pass on him. Take the Braves as an example. If they neglected to claim him because of your strategy, then another team could still claim him and prevent the Braves from having a shot at him.
I don’t know the waiver system very well, but the decision not to claim Berkman would make sense if there were any penalty associated with claiming him. For instance, if making a waiver claim on one player moves you to the bottom of the list for making claims on other players, then a GM wouldn’t want to waste a claim on a player he believes he is unlikely to acquire. If he doesn’t think his rivals are likely to acquire him either (through the waiver process), then there’s no need to block someone else’s claim either.
I guess I’m skeptical that we here at Fangraphs caught all of MLB’s GM’s making an obvious gaffe by not attempting to acquire a slugging superstar in the middle of a great year.
Those are fantasy waiver-rules, not the MLB’s – you don’t lose your priority if you make a claim.
Not that many races this year, so not many teams feel the need to block a trade, or trade for him.
The NL is basically all set, not even a WC race, and in the AL the only race is Texas/LAA and Bos/NYY with only the former 2 fighting for a playoff spot.
I think AL teams are convinced Berkman is a NL producer and can not cut it in the AL (like Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn).
Berkman said he does not wanted to be traded anyway…