The MLB trade deadline has already passed, but until the end of the month, teams are still allowed to make trades using the waiver process. But Bucs GM Neal Huntington suggests (subscription required) that's unlikely to happen:
↵↵↵Pirates GM Neal Huntington gets the sense that the vast majority of waiver claims are being made to keep competitors from dealing for players.
↵"A team simply doesn't want you to trade the player to somebody better than they are," Pirates GM Neal Huntington said. "That eliminates some trade possibilities. And the other issue, even if you have somebody who clears, there still has to be a true interest in trading for that player, and the ability to get a deal done. Trades are unpredictable in general. Once you get into the waiver part of it, it becomes really unpredictable."
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I'm not the first to wonder if Huntington is trying to trade catcher Ryan Doumit here - he's the one who seems most likely to go this month. The Pirates acquired Chris Snyder at the July deadline and installed him as their starting catcher, making Doumit a roving catcher / outfielder / first baseman. Doumit is ill-suited for that role - he already torpedoed one game with an awful play in the outfield, and his bat isn't good enough for outfield or first anyway. He has also become a wretched defensive catcher, but at least he hits well for the position. Doumit isn't a worthless player, but he's a bit of a square peg, so it would be hard enough to trade him even without the waivers process getting in the way. With waivers, it's probably just about impossible, unless the Pirates are willing to just dump his contract, which is probably something they should consider.