Nationals' Dan Haren Reportedly Placed On Waivers; Starts vs Phillies Friday

Major League teams can, of course, make trades after the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline. In order to do so, teams must first pass their players through revocable waivers. If they're unclaimed after 47 hours, the player can then be traded at any point during the rest of the season. If they're claimed by another team, the original team can simply pull the player off waivers, work out a trade or let the team that claimed them have the player. Any player who goes through that process and is claimed, dealt or acquired by another team before August 31st is eligible for postseason play. Players acquired after the August 31st Waiver Trade Deadline are not eligible... If you want to read more details and a more detailed explanation of the process, Click HERE.

CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler reported this afternoon that Washington Nationals' right-hander Dan Haren had been placed on waivers:

Biggest name of note who went on waivers today: Dan Haren.

— Danny Knobler (@DannyKnoblerCBS) August 8, 2013

Haren told MLB.com's Bill Ladson last weekend that he had didn't expect to return to the nation's capital in 2014 after a less-than-expected 2013 campaign with the Nats. Haren, 32, signed a 1-year/$13M deal this past winter, but struggled in the first half of the season:

"My heart says I probably won’t be back," Haren said. "I haven’t lived up to what I was paid to do and what I came here to accomplish, despite the last two or three weeks. The majority of the season has been a struggle for me. Even if I wanted to come back — it has been a tough year. I haven’t lived up to the billing so far. I don’t know what next year is going to bring."

After 20 starts, the 11-year MLB veteran is (6-11) with a 5.14 ERA, a 4.44 FIP, 21 HRs (1.69 HR/9), 21 BB (1.69 BB/9) and 99 Ks (7.96 K/9) in 112 IP. Following a rough month of June in which Haren had a 9.82 ERA with opponents posting a .349/.391/.720 line against him, he spent time on the DL and received a cortisone shot in his shoulder.

Upon returning to the Nationals' rotation, Haren's (2-2) with a 2.40 ERA and a .206/.267/.290 line against him and just two home runs allowed in 30.0 IP, after he'd allowed seven home runs in 18 1/3 IP in June.

Nationals' manager Davey Johnson talked about the success Haren's had since coming off the DL on 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s The Sports Junkies on Wednesday morning. "He's pitched awfully good," Johnson said, "I think his earned run average after the break has been under 3.00." Asked what was different, the Nats' skipper said, "I think maybe something physical was holding him back and he was trying to do too much. And he [strayed] from the kind of pitcher he is. But he's a pro and he's pitching like one now."

Haren's next schedule start for the Nationals is Friday night against the Phillies in Nationals Park.