Reports Indicate the Los Angeles Dodgers Claimed Cliff Lee on Waivers; Phillies Claimed Some Players

The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be the team who placed a waiver claim on Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee.  The Dodgers, of course, also put a claim on Joe Blanton and the two sides worked out a deal.  But please relax, the waiver claim means nothing. After July 31, a player must clear waivers to be traded.    Teams have the chance just once to place a player on waivers.   Players on the waiver wire may be claimed by teams.  The team who controls' the claimed players' contract has two options: let the player go to the other team, or pull the player back and never place them on waivers again. So, the Los Angeles Dodgers have money.    They were willing to take on Joe Blanton's salary, so the Phillies were happy to let him go.  The Dodgers may also have been willing to eat Cliff Lee's money, in the off chance the Phillies were simply looking to dump Lee's contract.   There could be a couple reasons the Dodgers did it.   First, they want Lee and could afford him i...