White Sox may have to pay part of salary in any trade

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras has cleared waivers and now becomes eligible to be traded to any interested team, SI.com has learned.

While Contreras is only 6-14 overall with a 6.24 ERA, he has pitched well lately. One competing GM contended that "his is the most interesting name to have cleared so far.''

Teams have been reluctant to trade for Contreras because he's due to make $10 million in both 2008 and '09 and had been pitching poorly for much of the season. However, he's allowed no earned runs in each of his past two outings, one as a starter and one in relief, and scouts say they've noticed he's corrected his delivery and is back to an over-the-top style, perhaps leading to recent successes.

Teams would still probably want the White Sox to offset Contreras' salary in some way, but his recent rejuvenation could spark some interest. The Dodgers, whose reluctance to trade prospects before the waiver deadline cost them a chance at Joe Blanton or Jon Garland, are one contender that's struggling lately and could probably use a starting pitcher.

Players who clear waivers can be traded and still appear for acquiring teams in postseason play as long as they are dealt before the Sept. 1 deadline. Teams typically put a majority of players through waivers, but those claimed can be pulled back and then become ineligible to be traded.