With the trade deadline now in our rearview mirror, we embark on a different scenario for the next month where teams try to add to their rosters as they make one last push towards the playoffs.

As we pointed out to you yesterday, trade scenarios are far from over, but this time they will happen through the waiver process.

Buster Olney of ESPN wrote today in his column a list of players that could be traded through waivers.

– Jason Kubel(Minnesota Twins): He’s eligible for free agency and he’s making $5.25 million this season. The Twins decided not to sell at the deadline, but Olney suggest that they could wait until later this month to place Kubel on waivers and wait for a team like the Yankees or Rangers to put a claim on him.

– Kyle Farnsworth(Tampa Bay Rays): The right hander is having a good season, and as Olney points out the Rays are always open to trade conversations. Farnsworth though is projected to become a Type-A free agent. So any team that places a claim on him will have to offer the Rays a deal that’s worth more than the two compensation draft picks they’ll get if Farnsworth signs elsewhere.

– Ramon Hernandez(Cincinnati Reds): If the Reds fall out of the playoff race, Olney believes they’ll place Hernandez on waivers. The catcher will be a free agent at the end of the season, so the Reds should listen to offers from the team that places the claim. Olney says that the Pirates and Diamondbacks will probably place a claim. The Pirates might need him, but the Diamondbacks will place the claim so he doesn’t get to the Giants who definitely need him.

– Carlos Pena (Chicago Cubs): Even though the Cubs said they wanted to keep Pena, they might place him on waivers if they want to save some of the money owed to him. Clubs probably won’t deal any good prospect for Pena, but would be willing to take on his salary.

– Jim Thome(Minnesota Twins): He’s three home runs away from 600, and as Olney points out, there’s no chance the Twins will move him before he reaches that plateau. But if he reaches 600 HR’s before August is over, they could put him on waivers and they’ll probably get several claims on him.

– Jason Giambi(Colorado Rockies): The Phillies were having talks with the Rockies before Giambi got hurt, but if they still want to deal him, they can place him on waivers as soon as he’s healthy. According to Olney, a general manager said the other day that there is no chance that Giambi reaches Philadelphia on waivers, he’s making only $1 million, and is a powerful hitter coming off the bench. The Pirates, Brewers, Cardinals, Braves and Giants may place a claim on him.

– Wandy Rodriguez(Houston Astros): He’s owed $40 million so he’ll probably pass through waivers and the Yankees and Astros could continue their negotiations where they left off yesterday. The Yankees were willing to eat about half of that money, but the Astros wanted them to absorb the entire contract and give up a good prospect for the lefty. The question here in my opinion, is if Rodriguez will be able to handle the AL East.

– Carlos Quentin(Chicago White Sox): The White Sox are still in race, so keeping Quentin makes a lot of sense, but if they fall out of competition, the White Sox could place him on waivers. He’ll receive several claims for sure, and the White Sox could listen to offers for a player they might have been trying to deal since the offseason says Olney.

– Jeremy Guthrie(Baltimore Orioles): Teams like the Tigers, Indians and Yankees could be interested in the right hander. Olney says though that odds are the Orioles will pull Guthrie back.

– Heath Bell (San Diego Padres): The Padres decided to keep Bell because they felt the offers they received weren’t good enough. That doesn’t mean they won’t place him on waivers. Teams like the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Giants could place a claim on him.

– Josh Willingham(Oakland Athletics): The Pirates, Braves, Red Sox and Yankees showed interest in Willingham, but the Athletics are not going to just give him away. Olney predicts that he will be placed on waivers, but them they will pull him back.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.