PHOENIX — Major League Baseball’s August 31 waiver deadline created intrigue, suspense and above all, a massive amount of confusion.
Most San Francisco Giants fans (and most beat writers) couldn’t explain the intricacies of the late-summer waiver deadline, but everyone knows the impact Cody Ross had after the club acquired him following the July 31 non-waiver deadline in 2010.
The Giants placed a waiver claim on Ross to prevent the San Diego Padres from adding him to their outfield and the rest was history.
August waiver trades like the one that brought Ross to San Francisco and the deal that sent Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees last season are now a relic of yesteryear.