The New York Yankees won’t have a decision to make regarding Houston Astros’ left-hander Wandy Rodriguez after all. The Yankees were rumored to be interested in the Houston starter, but will not get the opportunity since he has been claimed by the Colorado Rockies.
The Astros can now negotiate a trade with Colorado or pull Rodriguez back from waivers and keep him.
The Rockies are just 61-68 and seemingly not in contention in the National League West. Colorado traded Ubaldo Jiminez to Cleveland at the trading deadline, seemingly dumping salary. The Rockies apparently want Houston to pay at least part of Rodriguez’s remaining salary.
Rodriguez, 32, is owed slightly more than $1 million for the rest of this season, $10 million in 2012 and $13 million in 2013.
Purple Row believes that the Rockies have made this claim with an eye toward the team’s 2012 starting rotation, which has several question marks.