Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau clears trade waivers; trade possible?

While most players are put on waivers after the Major League Baseball trade deadline passes, the vast majority of players who are truly available and those that could be a difference maker are claimed – either by an interested team or a team attempting to block a rival from obtaining the said player.

So it comes with some mild shock that long time Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau cleared waivers this morning, going unclaimed by any team.

Morneau, who is in the last year of his contract comes relatively cheap (from a pro-rated standpoint) and given his solid production, it’s strange to see that no team put a claim in. Even if they weren’t interest in tempting to acquire the left handed hitter, one would have assumed they would attempt to block a team with interest.

Now, because Morneau went unclaimed, the Twins are free to trade him to any team with interest.

Any deal would probably require the Twins to pay a pro-rated portion of Morneau’s $14 million dollar contract this season, but given there are only 60 games remaining on the docket, it isn’t that expensive – especially for a player with 14 home runs and 67 RBI in 111 games.

The Twins will continue to field offers for Morneau, who was almost traded to the Baltimore Orioles prior to the trade deadline expiring.