Waiver placements increase in the second half of August because they allow player movement after the trade deadline and must occur before rosters lock for September postseason eligibility. Contending teams that fall out of the race use waivers to give veterans with notable salaries a chance to be claimed and remove remaining salary obligations. Teams near the luxury tax threshold use waivers to shed contracts and avoid Competitive Balance Tax penalties, with examples including the Angels offloading Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López. Recent unclaimed waivers include a Rangers righty now on the IL and Marlins starter Cal Quantrill, owed roughly $734K.
The second half of August brings an uptick in waiver placements. Beyond the trade deadline, waivers are the only real option for player movement from one team to another. A few teams that were fringe contenders at the end of July know now that they're almost certainly going to miss the postseason. Placing veterans with semi-notable salaries on waivers gives them a chance to dump the final few weeks of a contract.
This can take on added importance for teams that are right up against the luxury tax. The Angels kicked this practice into gear two years ago, offloading Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and to slide narrowly below the CBT threshold. That at least allowed them to recoup a better draft pick when Shohei Ohtani walked in free agency. It's not only about tax avoidance, though.
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