Baseball
Agbayani placed on recallable waivers
Advertiser Staff
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| San Diego might be interested in acquiring New York's Benny Agbayani.
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According to today's edition of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Mets requested waivers on outfielder Agbayani, first baseman Todd Zeile, third baseman Robin Ventura, second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and pitcher Kevin Appier. All-Star catcher Mike Piazza also has been reported to be on waivers.
The Mets have the option of rescinding a request if a player is claimed.
The report said if Agbayani is claimed, the Mets will likely ask the claiming team to make a trade offer.
The Padres, who Thursday picked up outfielder Ray Lankford in a trade, are thought to be interested in Agbayani, who is making $260,000 this season.
Agbayani, whose season was slowed by a chip fracture in his left wrist after being hit by a pitch in April, is batting .282 with five homers.
The former St. Louis School and Hawai'i Pacific University athlete captured the attention of New York and Hawai'i last season with his playoff heroics.
He hit a game-winning homer in a 3-2 13-inning victory against the San Francisco Giants in the National League divisional series at Shea Stadium.
He also drove in the winning run in the Mets' only victory against the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Last season, Agbayani hit .289 with 15 homers and 60 runs batted in.
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Explaining waivers
- Irrevocable waivers: Team releases player outright. Layperson's term, he's fired.
- Recallable waivers: Team requests waivers on a player. If the player is not claimed by another team within two business days, then the player has "cleared waivers."
If a player is claimed by another team, the team that waived the player can trade him to the claiming team, let him go to the claiming team, or simply keep him.
If the claiming team is allowed to obtain the player, the claiming team must assume the player's contract.
This waiver system usually occurs as a way to subvert the July 31 trading deadline.
It is standard for teams to request waivers on all their players in August.
