2 players Pirates fans can see Pittsburgh placing on waivers in August to save money

The only thing that Pittsburgh Pirates principal owner Bob Nutting seems to love more than fielding a losing baseball team is saving money. With the season effectively over at this point – if we're being honest, it was probably over before the end of April – the front office is probably already looking for any opportunity they can find to shed cost before the curtains close.

To that end, due to their respective contract structures, veteran starting pitcher Andrew Heaney and outfielder Tommy Pham could be under-the-radar candidates to be placed on waivers before the end of the month to allow the Pirates to save some money and open opportunities for some of their rising prospects.

To be clear, no one is suggesting that it's likely – or even recommended – that either of these players gets waived (especially Pham, who has rather shockingly been one of the Pirates' most valuable position players of late). Still, this front office has proven that it's not above jettisoning productive players in order to save a few dollars (ask Rowdy Tellez how he knows).

Since both players are on guaranteed Major League contracts, the Pirates remain responsible for playing them their full salary unless another team takes them and takes on their full salary – which is far less likely in Heaney's case than it is in Pham's – so the Pirates wouldn't technically get any money "back" by waiving them and watching them go unclaimed. But both Pham and Heaney are under contracts that carry performance-based incentives that could represent an opportunity to save on costs (again, just ask Tellez).

2 players fans can see Pirates placing on waivers in August to save money

LHP Andrew Heaney

Heaney’s guaranteed salary is accompanied by a $50,000 bonus for 120 innings pitched. (Not to give Nutting and company any ideas, but Heaney has pitched 119 innings this season, so the Pirates can save on that one if they DFA him before his next start!)

Heaney's bonuses then increase to $100,000 for 130 innings and then $150,000 each for 140, 150, 160 and 170. He can therefore earn an extra $750,000 in theory if he unlocks all of those. When combined with his $5.25 million guarantee, Heaney can earn as much as $6 million this season – unless, of course, the Pirates waive him before he has the chance to unlock the milestones. We'd say 160 innings is reasonably within reach.

OF Tommy Pham

Pham signed a one-year contract with the Pirates for this season that guarantees him $4.025 million, but he can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses. Said bonuses are tied to plate appearances, with Pham earning $125,000 each for hitting the 475 and 525 marks. He's currently at 323, but he's eclipsed the 475 mark in each of his last four seasons (and in eight of his 12 Major League campaigns).

Again, this is not anything we'd advice, but don't forget Tellez hit .300/.325/.488 the month before he was released, so anything is possible.

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