I typed “Brett” at first, of course…but it was Randy Myers.

Myers had 28 saves for the Blue Jays in his final season, 1998, before being traded back to the Padres after being claimed on waivers. Though he was under contract for both 1999 and 2000, he did not pitch in the Major Leagues after 1998.

In 2000, Myers earned a salary of $6,916,667.00 while unable to pitch due to a damaged shoulder. Most of his 1999 and 2000 seasons were spent receiving treatment in the Padres training room after undergoing rotator cuff surgery in 1999; his injury resulted in a legal dispute between the Padres and their insurance carrier after the carrier denied an $8 million claim due to Myers’ inability to play

The Padres’ 1998 waiver claim of Myers is considered one of the biggest blunders in the history of the waiver wire. The Padres did not want Myers, mostly because of the $12 million and 2 additional years remaining on his contract as well as the fact that they already had an established closer in Trevor Hoffman, but placed a waiver claim in order to prevent him from going to the rival Atlanta Braves. They expected the Blue Jays to rescind their waiver claim, but the Blue Jays instead allowed the waiver claim to go through, leaving them responsible for the rest of his contract

For some reason I’ve always like that story.

Jack and shit.

…the 2nd time a player is put on waivers, it becomes irrevocable if he is claimed.

So if you tried to do that, Boston could claim the player and say, I’m not giving you jack for him, and Boston would get him.

Free agents drop off when they file for free agency.

Usually there is a deadline for picking up an option, although that deadline can vary and is generally one of the terms of the contract.