Tim Lahey DFA'd By Phillies

by Al Yellon on Apr 5, 2008 5:17 PM CDT

I can't figure out this move, made by the Phillies only a week after they claimed him from the Cubs.

The fallback from Brad Lidge's activation from the disabled list -- or really, from Rudy Seanez's Tuesday arrival -- may not know his next stop until as late as Thursday, as he must wait out the waiver process. The reliever was designated for assignment on Saturday.

So can the Cubs get him back? Lahey didn't appear in a game for the Phillies.

Stay tuned.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I thought the whole point

was to get him back to the cubs for that "player to be named"?

by Rudey on Apr 5, 2008 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

A lot has to happen before that does.

He has to clear waivers... I doubt he will, but maybe the Cubs can "reclaim" him. I wouldn't be surprised if that's why he became a Phillie in the first place. Maybe there was a "gentlemen's agreement" among GM's.

It's entirely possible he'll wind up in the Cub farm system.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 5, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions

So, What Does Clearing Waivers Here Mean...

...in a case where Lahey already started that process? Does he "continue" the waiver process where he left off, or does he start over?

If it starts over, are the Cubs, Twins and Phillies exempt from being able to claim him?

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Apr 6, 2008 7:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe the Tigers will pick him up

They need all the bullpen help they can get.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Apr 5, 2008 6:30 PM CDT reply actions

What's the waiver claim order?

Is it current standings, i.e. as of the day he's waived? or is it based on last season's final standings.

If current, I'd say he doesn't get past the Tigers.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Apr 5, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply actions

He made it to the Phillies last time...

...and you'd have to think they were pretty high up on the waiver list. So who knows.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions

If I Am Not Mistaken...

... the claim order is based on the final 2007 standings. This expires after 30 days, I think. Then, it goes to the current standings.

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Apr 6, 2008 7:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Can anyone help?

I purchased tickets from TicketsNow for tomorrow's game...the confirmation email simply says to pick up the tickets "by Wrigley"...do they have a booth at the stadium? Do I pick them up at the Wrigley will-call booth? Their help line is closed on the weekend, so it's no help to me. Any help I can get is much appreciated.
Thanks...

"You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace." -- Ernie Banks

by MississippiMalaise on Apr 5, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

Please don't post this in multiple threads.

If someone can help you, they'll find this and answer. Thanks.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 5, 2008 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry, Al...

Do you have any ideas on this? I'm only in town tomorrow and I'm worried I won't get the tickets I've paid for.

"You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace." -- Ernie Banks

by MississippiMalaise on Apr 5, 2008 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

I'm not sure, but...

I believe one of the gift shops across from Wrigley has a ticketsnow table in the corner. It's the gift shop in between the 7-11 and the one on the corner of Clark & Addison...but please,take this with a grain of salt... this is going by memory...I am not really 100% sure about this.

Kasey

See the Cubs 2008 schedule (with TV schedule & game-by-game results) at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html

by kaseyi on Apr 5, 2008 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Lahey

Rule 5 rules still apply. Any team that claims him has to keep them on the 25 man roster. That would probably eliminate a contending team like the Tigers. The Giants passed on him the first time; would they pass again?

If he clears waivers, he is then "offered back" (not sure by whom) to the Twins. There is no reason for the Twins to not take him back, since $25,000 is chump change and the Twins can send him down to the minors. (He doesn't even have to be put on their 40 man roster.)

Now, the problem: "The PTBNL can't be an active big leaguer between the date of the trade and the date he's named." (Source: Jamey Newberg's excellent The Newberg Report: 2006 Bound Edition.) Since Lahey was on Philly's 25 man roster, he can't be the PTBNL.

It is possible that the Cubs and Twins could work something else out, gentlemen's agreement-style, like the Twins sending a non-prospect as the PTBNL, then the Cubs sending a non-prospect to the Twins for Lahey.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 5, 2008 10:33 PM CDT reply actions

Question.

Since Lahey is now DFA'd, does that take him out of the "active major leaguer" category?

I still think the Twins and Cubs may come to an agreement here. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that the Phillies were part of this "gentlemen's agreement" (stashing Lahey away until this could be worked out).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 6, 2008 4:02 AM CDT up reply actions

re: Problem

... the verbiage in the Newberg Report is ambiguous. Lahey was an active big leaguer between the date of teh trade (Nov 13, 2007) and the date he's named (some future date). BUT, he no longer is an active big leaguer (that's the hazy part).

Anyways, I still think the Cubs / Twins can complete this deal by naming Lahey as the PTBNL in the Monroe deal. They just need to get it done by May 13, 2008 (6 months time limit from the Monroe trade).

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Apr 6, 2008 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions

The Twins have to get him back first, though.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 6, 2008 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions

i.e., clear waivers...

...and accept him being offered back, yes.

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Apr 6, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions

No

He was an active major leaguer at some time between the trade (Nov. 16) and the "naming" of the player (which has not yet occurred).

This is sometimes the explanation when a hot prospect doesn't get a September callup. He was a PTBNL in a deadline deal, but a stipulation in the deal is that the trade doesn't get completed until after the season (or Rule 5 draft).

As I said above, it is still very possible for the Twins and Cubs to do a work-around deal. This would benefit the Cubs more than claiming him on waivers, because he then wouldn't be subject to Rule 5.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 6, 2008 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Does he have to be returned to the Twins?

Isn't that the rule if he doesn't stay on the Phillies' 25-man roster all year? I'm not sure how they can DFA him.

Wacky rules, these baseball people.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 6, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions

In Normal Circumstances...

...Lahey would be "offered back" to the Twins after he cleared waivers. If the Twins don't want him, they could deny him, thus the player staying with the Phillies, and could be re-assigned to their minor league affiliates. This wouldn't happen in this case, though, as the Twins have expressed interest in bring him back.

I still don't understand the whole PTBNL stipulation here, and why Lahey could not be named. Time will tell. I guess the Cubs still have about 5 weeks to either choose a player on a pre-determined list of players, or resort to cash considerations.

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Apr 6, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions