When the Red Sox claimed Billy Wagner off waivers from the Mets, they wound up trading a couple players to get Wagner. One of the players was outfielder Chris Carter who was the infamous player-to-be-named-later in the deal. Since we’re past July 31st, all traded players must first clear waivers. So what better way to screw with a team than messing up their roster by placing a claim on a guy who’s been traded — particularly a nondescript, 26-year-old minor league outfielder with decent power?
The New York Yankees put in a waiver claim to block Carter’s move to the Mets, presumably to create roster difficulty for the Red Sox.
Having pulled Carter back from waivers, the Red Sox must now carry him on their 40-man roster for the rest of the season –– a spot they might prefer to use on a pitcher. The trade can’t be completed until after the season, denying Carter a chance to play and the Mets a chance to see what they’ve got in him.
Considering the Red Sox have done this well with only 25 men on their roster, I’m guessing they won’t have too tough of a time if they can expand to 39 instead of 40 later on. Still, it’s just funny that the Yankees would take such a measure to serve as a nuisance for Boston. Then again, the way the Mets are going, they could use all the players they can get.
