According to ESPN, veteran outfielders Travis Jankowski and Robbie Grossman were placed on waivers by the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers have not announced the move and declined to comment.
Both players, who are free agents this winter, can play for the Rangers during their waivers because they were not designated for assignment before being placed, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.
What does this mean?
Because outright waivers are irrevocable, if Jankowski, 33, or Grossman, 34, are claimed by another team after MLB's 48-hour waiver period expires Saturday, they will have to report to their new club, and the new club will be responsible for the remainder of their contract.
The Rangers will most likely try to clear two spots on their 40-man roster for the final month of the season for emerging players, including Jack Leiter and possibly Kumar Rocker, who just made a dominant debut for Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
If either Jankowski or Grossman are claimed, their new team would owe Jankowski about $274,000 and Grossman about $242,000 for the final month of the season.
Teams vying for the postseason could be interested in Grossman because of his track record against left-handed pitchers and Jankowski's speed as a pinch runner, as well as his defensive skills, which he showed off on Wednesday with his game-saving, home run-preventing catch against the White Sox.
If they are not claimed, they can remain with the Rangers and remain on the 40-man roster.
The priority of waiver claims is determined in reverse order of the MLB-wide rankings and – unlike the now-defunct August waiver system – is not league-specific, according to MLB.com.
Grossman, a switch-hitter, was a member of the Rangers' 2023 World Series championship team but signed with the White Sox in the offseason. Texas brought him back in a trade in May.
Unlike last year's parade led by the Angels, MLB avoided a problem today because several players were placed on waivers.
Among the less than 10 players on today's list, according to sources, are: Tommy Pham (STL), Robbie Grossman, Travis Jankowski (TEX) and Nicky Lopez (CHW).@katiejwoo was first on Pham.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) 29 August 2024
Grossman will have a batting average of .279/.388/.430 in 103 at-bats in 2024.
You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.
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