http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Nationals Acquire Matt Thornton From Yankees
By Jeff Todd [August 5, 2014 at 1:44pm CDT]
1:54pm: The Nationals have in fact acquired Thornton after placing a claim,
reports Heyman. It’s not yet clear whether or what the Nationals will send
in return other than taking on salary, says Heyman.
1:44pm: The Nationals have claimed Matt Thornton off revocable waivers from
the Yankees, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter. Washington was
awarded its claim on Thornton, which indicates that no American League clubs
and all National League clubs with a worse record passed on the opportunity.
(Be sure to read this primer on August trades if you have not done so
already.)
MLB: New York Yankees at Oakland Athletics
This means that the Nationals have 48.5 hours from the point that the claim
was awarded (which remains unclear) to work out a deal. If a trade cannot be
arranged, the Yankees will have to decide whether to allow the Nationals to
take on Thornton’s contract without compensation. (Having placed the claim,
the Nats would be obliged to accept it.)
Thornton has been excellent this year, pitching to a 2.55 ERA with 7.3 K/9
against 2.2 BB/9 over 24 2/3 innings. He signed a two-year, $7MM deal over
the offseason, under which he is promised a $3.5MM annual salary in each
season. The Nationals have been said to be looking hard to add a southpaw pen
piece, though it would be somewhat of a surprise if the Yankees moved a
player who has been a fairly valuable contributor.