Report: Houston Astros closer Chad Qualls claimed off revocable waivers

According to a report, an unidentified team has claimed Houston Astros closer Chad Qualls off revocable waivers.

Before a player can be traded after the July 31 non-waiver deadline, he must first pass through waivers that can be withdrawn if the player’s current team chooses to.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, via Twitter:

So the Astros have two days to work out a trade for Qualls with the team that claimed him, let him go to that team with only $20,000 coming back as compensation or pull Qualls back off waivers.

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If they pull Qualls back off waivers, he can’t be traded for the rest of the season.

Qualls was the closer for parts of two seasons in Arizona in 2009-10, but has spent most of his 11 big-league seasons as a set-up man.

This season, Qualls has a 3.07 ERA and 1.159 WHIP in 49 appearances and 44 innings and has converted 14 of 17 save chances.

He doesn’t have a lot of save opportunities because Houston doesn’t win a lot of games, but for a contender looking for a veteran arm in the pen with postseason experience, he would certainly fit the bill. Qualls pitched in the playoffs for the Astros in 2004-05 and with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010.

He’s made 712 career appearances, all in relief, and has 65 career saves to go with a 3.75 ERA and 1.273 WHIP.

He was originally drafted by the Astros in the second round in 2000 and returned to Houston as a free agent in December. He’s also pitched for the Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins.