MLB Waiver Wire 2017: Breaking Down Potential Post-Deadline Moves

MLB's non-waiver trade window slammed shut on Monday. This makes exchanges increasingly complex and unlikely, but not impossible.

Clubs can still complete trades through waivers. If a player clears the waiver wire, his team is free to negotiate around the league. If he's claimed, the team can either discuss a deal exclusively with that squad or renounce the player's rights. A player must be acquired by September 1 to hold postseason eligibility for his new team.

The process is typically reserved for unappealing veterans who will round out a contender's roster. Michael Bourn, Coco Crisp, Fernando Salas and Marc Rzepczynski were among the most notable names to switch teams in an August. Yet an expensive star occasionally slips through the system.

Brad Hand or Zach Britton won't get dealt via this method. Players must draw minimal demand because of poor performance and/or a costly salary to stand a chance. Let's take a look at a few players who could change towns after clearing waivers.

Johnny Cueto, SP, San Francisco Giants

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

By far the most ambitious candidate, Johnny Cueto is two years removed from vaulting the Kansas City Royals to a World Series championship. He began his six-year contract by registering a 2.79 ERA in 219.2 innings for the San Francisco Giants in 2016.

The 31-year-old ace hasn't fared as well this season, relinquishing a 4.59 ERA and 121 hits in 115.2 frames. He can opt out of his contract this offseason, and the 40-66 Giants could be mathematically eliminated from the National League West by the time he returns from the disabled list.

Although his blisters derailed the Giants' opportunity to shop him before the non-waiver deadline, he return from the 10-day disabled list to take the mound in August. According to East Bay Times' Andrew Baggarly, the veteran will make his first rehab start on Monday.

Per SFGate.com's Henry Schulman, Cueto stressed the importance of making a minor league pit stop when the team considered bringing him straight to the majors.

"I went seven days without even picking up a baseball. Now it's more than 10 days since I pitched," Cueto said through translator Erwin Higueros. "I can't all of a sudden pick up a baseball and step on a major league mound and throw. I can't hurt myself, look bad and make the team look bad."

Even with the Giants far removed from the playoff chase, Cueto's next starts could prove monumental. A strong return could help him land on a contender and allow the team to forgo paying a $21 million guaranteed salary in each of the next four seasons.

Few teams could afford his current deal, so the risk of paying a well-traveled hurler through his age-35 season should allow him to sneak through waivers. Or at least fall far enough to a deep-pocketed contender.

Neil Walker, 2B, New York Mets

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

The New York Mets had a busy week, announcing a trade of Addison Reed to the Red Sox and moving moving Lucas Duda to the Rays and while bringing aboard AJ Ramos with 2018 in mind. Yet they didn't find a new home for several position players on expiring contracts.

MLB's inflated power dampened the demand on hitters, creating a sour market for veteran bats. Yet Neil Walker, who batted .282/.347/.476 with 3.7 WAR last season, would have derived the most value had a hamstring injury not taken him out of action for six weeks.

Walker is still working off the rust, batting 2-for-11 with five strikeouts and displaying shaky defense since returning on Friday. Prospective buyers weren't impressed enough to pounce before the non-waiver deadline, but there's still time.

If the 31-year-old finds his footing, he could spawn an August transaction. Newsday's Marc Carig anticipated interest in the second baseman:

After selling most of their soon-to-be free agents, the Mets will gladly move Walker's expiring contract if possible. Because he's playing on a $17.2 million qualifying offer, nobody out of the playoff hunt is likely to block them with a waiver claim.

The Arizona Diamondbacks could be the perfect trade partner. Brandon Drury hasn't hit a home run since June 13, and Chris Owings fractured his finger on Sunday. Per the team's Twitter account, it placed him on the 60-day disabled list.

The Cleveland Indians would make sense if Jason Kipnis' return from a hamstring injury doesn't go according to plan. If not, another injury could create a need for Walker elsewhere.

Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes are also all waiver trade candidates.

Rajai Davis, OF, Oakland Athletics

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Rajai Davis nearly became a folk hero last year. Had Cleveland won the World Series' Game 7, his game-tying home run off Aroldis Chapman would have stood as the biggest moment in franchise history.

Despite the clutch blast, the 36-year-old outfielder moved to the Oakland Athletics, with whom he has hit a feeble .235/.296/.350 in 285 plate appearances. That tame slash line didn't net enough trade interest in a market more interested in pitching, but he's the perfect August bonus buy.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

While most contenders don't need extra pop, speedsters aren't as widely available. Only Dee Gordon has stolen more bases than Davis' 241 since 2011. 

He's also heating up at the plate, hitting .310/.385/.448 in July. A free swinger throughout his career, he has shown more patience with 14 walks over his last 130 plate appearances.

As a career .286/.342/.434 hitter against lefties, Davis could also fill the short end of a platoon if needed. There isn't a huge demand for outfielders, but injuries could clear a spot somewhere by the end of August. The well-traveled pinch runner and fourth outfielder would only cost a low-level prospect.

Other Waiver Trade Candidates

C Kurt Suzuki, Atlanta Braves; 1B Yonder Alonso, Oakland Athletics; INF Asdrubal Cabera, Mets; OFs Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson, Mets; OF Matt Joyce, Athletics; OF Carlos Gomez, Texas Rangers; SP Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays; SP R.A. Dickey, Braves; SP Ricky Nolasco, Los Angeles Angels; RP Drew Storen, Cincinnati Reds; RP Brad Ziegler, Miami Marlins

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Salary information obtained from Cot's Baseball Contracts.