The Philadelphia Phillies have placed left-handed reliever Andy Oliver on waivers, according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly. Oliver was selected by the Phillies as a Rule 5 pick from the Pirates, but failed to make the team as their second lefty (a spot that opened up after the Phillies traded Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates).
Oliver can be claimed by another team, but that team would have to place him on their active roster. If he clears waivers, he has to be offered back to the Pirates for half of the Rule 5 selection cost ($25,000). The Pirates and Phillies could also work out a trade to allow Philadelphia to keep Oliver. This happened a few years ago when the Pirates got Robby Rowland from Arizona, letting the Diamondbacks keep Brett Lorin.
Oliver will be a minor league free agent at the end of the 2015 season, so it’s unlikely he will fetch much in return. It’s also possible that the Pirates might not want him back, since their Triple-A bullpen is crowded enough as it is, and he’s already shown that he can’t be an option in the majors in a small role on one of the worst teams in baseball.
