2025 Transactions: Buehler & Santana Find New Teams, IKF Claimed

Per MLB rules, August 31 is the final day teams can add players from outside their organization and have those players be eligible for the playoffs. But thanks to the league ending the waiver trade deadline years ago, the only ways to do that past the deadline are through waiver claims and signings. This year, several playoff contenders made notable moves before September 1.

Buehler and Mayza to Philly

Philadelphia signed Walker Buehler to a Minor League deal on August 31, a move that came two days after he was released by the Red Sox (read more about that here).

Per Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the plan is for Buehler to make one start in Triple-A before making his team debut against the Royals in less than two weeks.

He would be the replacement for Zack Wheeler, out for the rest of 2025.

Additionally, the Phillies added Tim Mayza, who pitched in just seven games for the Pirates this season. Mayza, signed last winter, spent most of 2025 on the IL with a lat strain.

Mayza’s a heavy sinkerballer, and he’ll give the Phillies another left-handed option for October. As of August 31, the Phillies have two lefties (Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks) on their 26-man roster.

Alvarado, thanks to his PED suspension, is ineligible for the playoffs.

IKF claimed by Jays

The Blue Jays re-acquired former Toronto infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa on August 31, as Toronto claimed the Pittsburgh infielder off waivers.

Kiner-Falefa’s scouting report hasn’t changed much since his Toronto days. The 30-year-old doesn’t make a ton of hard contact but has a knack for taking balls the other way, spraying it to all fields. Additionally, Kiner-Falefa doesn’t whiff (14.8%) much at all and can play multiple positions.

Toronto traded Kiner-Falefa last July for Charles McAdoo.

Civale & Santana to Chicago

The Cubs added two players on the 31st, as Chicago reportedly signed Carlos Santana and claimed Aaron Civale off waivers from the White Sox.

Santana was placed on waivers this past week by the Guardians and went unclaimed.

The veteran switch-hitter has long been a lefty killer. Why does that matter? The Cubs have tried to protect Michael Busch from left-handers. This season, Busch slashed .195/.271/.299 (.570 OPS) against same-sided pitchers this season.

Civale, meanwhile, comes to the North Side after spending the last two months with the South Siders. The White Sox acquired him in the trade that sent Andrew Vaughn to the Brewers.

The 30-year-old Civale has made the rounds over the last few seasons, as the Cubs will be his fifth team since 2023. Civale does have a good cutter and curveball, and leans as a heavy fly-ball pitcher.