Interim GM Lee Pelekoudas has his work cut out for him.  He blew the chance at having Jarrod Washburn’s salary erased by trying to squeeze out some worthwhile talent from the New York Yankees (reportedly).  The theory was that he could ask high before the July 31st deadline because once that deadline passed Washburn could be placed on waivers for some team to claim, which would effectively erase that salary. 

Well, it appears that Washburn has cleared waivers.  No team, not the New York Yankees, New York Mets or Colorado Rockies, put in a claim.  The local media is putting their positive spin on it, saying how he can now be traded “without fear of a claim to block a move,” but wouldn’t it have been better for a team to claim him?  A guarantee that he is on the way out? 

Maybe I don’t understand the process fully, but this doesn’t sound like good news to me.  He can still be traded, but count on Seattle having to eat some of his salary.  If Washburn is still here in September, I will definitely join all of you in criticizing Pelekoudas’ performance.