Marco Estrada claimed on revocable waivers by AL East Team

According to reports by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi and BP Toronto’s Gideon Turk, an American League East team claimed Marco Estrada off trade waivers from the Blue Jays. These are revocable waivers, so Toronto can pull him back if they choose (which they likely will).

Turk reported that it was “implied heavily” that the claiming team was the New York Yankees, and that the move was made in order to block a possible trade.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that Estrada had been placed on waivers last Friday. If we assume that trade waivers were requested by 2 pm Eastern on Friday, and that the Yankees’ claim came on Sunday, it means the Blue Jays must have withdrawn their waiver request by 1:30 pm Tuesday. If he was placed on waivers after 2 pm on Friday, they have until 1:30 pm Wednesday to decide what to do.

Toronto is now 3.5 games back of the second Wild Card slot so I cannot see the Jays letting Estrada go to another team, especially the Yankees, just to save his remaining 2017 salary. Can you imagine Ross Atkins walking into the clubhouse explaining to his players, who still believe they have a chance to get into the playoffs, the rationale behind that move?

Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae spoke with John Gibbons who used his gut and/or inside information to confirm that Marco Estrada will remain a Blue Jay, at least for the rest of 2017.

We can debate about whether the Jays should have tired to pass Estrada through waivers at the beginning of August, before his latest run, in order to freely trade him this month. However, as a fan who hopes they can still make a run, I am happy that they won’t have to do it with a rotation where Nick Tepesch, Chris Rowley, and Brett Anderson throws every five days.