This Week’s MLB Betting Rumors (September 1st)

This Monday is the expiration of the waiver trading deadline for teams who want to add players and have them eligible for their postseason rosters. As the MLB season begins to wind down and teams as well as MLB betting fans gear up for the playoffs, here are some of the latest rumors out there.

This Week’s MLB Betting Rumors (September 1st)

 

Cubs’ shortstop Starlin Castro cleared waivers and can be traded anywhere. Via @Gelman_Scott: http://t.co/pdOctbnbRQ

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 30, 2015

  The Chicago Cubs were looking to move shortstop Starlin Castro before the non-waiver trade deadline back in July, but the huge contract that Castro had was a major sticking point. Now, Castro has made it through waivers, but the Cubs still have not been able to trade him. That seven-year, $60 million deal that Castro signed still has $39 million due, and the contract doesn’t expire until after the 2019 season. Now Castro does not look like a bargain, and contenders who could use a shortstop aren’t wanting to take on that whole deal. The 2015 season has seen a dropoff in productivity. Through his first 122 games, Castro has hit .242 with six home runs and 48 RBI. In 2014, he played in 134 games and hit a much more efficient .292 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI. Chicago has not been a team that historically takes pennies on the dollar for their trade chips. And when Castro is on his game, he is one of the top shortstops in the National League. He has already been to three All-Star games. Even with that big contract out there, though, the Cubs are likely to look to move Castro again during the off-season. If he can up his hitting performance in September, teams wanting a shortstop will likely take another look at Castro. Because of the depth that the Cubs have in the infield in their system, they want room for their prospects at the big league club. The hope is that Castro improves at the plate enough to make his contract palatable for other teams. The Boston Red Sox have put Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval through waivers, and they have cleared them and are now eligible for trade – until midnight Monday. It is unlikely that they will be in a trade, though. Both players signed big free-agent deals last winter and have been a disappointment. As Dave Dombrowski steps into his new role as president of baseball operations, these two players are likely to be on the block all winter. One potential reason for exposing the two to waivers is to start discussions now with other clubs to see who might be interest in either of these players. So which managers are on the hot seat now that September is here? That list starts with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who has been at the helm since 2011 and has a lifetime record of 405-332. The team has won at least 92 games the last two seasons, and they are currently in first place in the National League West. Even though Mattingly has never coached a losing team in Chavez Ravine, he is still on the hot seat. Why? The Dodgers have a payroll at about $300 million, but they aren’t dominating the division. Also, the management team in Los Angeles isn’t the group who hired Mattingly, and management brought in Ron Roenicke to be the team’s new third base coach with just seven weeks remaining in the season. The conspiracy theory is that new management wants him in if the Dodgers don’t make the playoffs or get knocked out early. Sources: Reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/29/bbo-redsox-teamreport-idUSMTZEB8TU41PHY20150829 Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/sites/howardcole/2015/07/27/don-mattingly-mismanages-dodgers-a-blow-by-blow/