Sources: Rodriguez claimed off waivers

The Astros could be getting ready to dump another salary - or not. Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez has been claimed on waivers, according to major-league sources. The claiming team is not yet known. The Astros can negotiate a trade with that club or pull back Rodriguez and keep him. The Astros, simply by dumping Rodriguez on the claiming team, could escape their remaining commitment of more than $25 million to him. Rodriguez, 32, is owed slightly more than $1 million for the rest of this season, $10 million in 2012 and $13 million in 2013. His $13 million club option for 2014 becomes a player option if he is sent to another club either through a trade or claim. He will receive a $2.5 million buyout if his option is not exercised. The claiming team, thanks to the player option, is risking the inheritance of a $36 million commitment to Rodriguez from '12 to '14. Rodriguez, though, might receive a comparable amount if he were a free agent. The Dodgers signed lefty Ted Lilly to a three-year, $33 million free-agent contract last off-season. Still, the Astros might not want to move Rodriguez. Their trades of outfielders Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn reduced their commitments for next season to $47.2 million, including Rodriguez's $10 million, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. The team's new ownership, which has yet to be approved, wants to reduce the payroll to about $60 million, sources say. The Astros could hit that number comfortably even if they retain Rodriguez. Without him, their rotation would be extremely thin. Rodriguez is 9-9 with a 3.31 ERA for the Astros, who own the worst record in the majors.