San Diego Padres - Time To Get Classy (OOTP10) Waiver Claim 1 - SHaynes23's Dynasty

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San Diego Padres - Time To Get Classy (OOTP10) Waiver Claim 1

Posted on April 30, 2010 at 11:16 PM.

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SP Jeff Niemann Claimed Off Waivers

The San Diego Padres were in desperate need of a fifth pitcher, so they made their first move of the young season today. The Tampa Bay Rays put promising young pitcher Jeff Niemann on waivers to try to move him to AAA, that's when the Padres swooped in and snatched the 4th overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. Niemann has appeared in only 5 Major League games, all for the Rays last season. He's 2-2 with an ERA of 5.06 during that time. He has not pitched in a game so far this season. He is viewed to be a low-risk pick up since his contract is up at the end of the season and he is only owed $650,000. Many experts feel this huge 6 foot 9, 260 pound righty projects very well into the future, and he has four plus pitches that he can keep hitters guessing with.

He is expected to be rushed into San Diego in time to take the mound in tonight's game against the Giants. This may explain why Jake Peavy got the out of turn start last night against the Giants. To make room for Niemann, Cesar Ramos was sent to AAA. Ramos was scheduled to be the fifth starter, and will focus on things to make him a more reliable starter while he is in the minors. Niemann looks to face off with Giants ace Tim Lincecum in his first game, and the Padres just want him to eat innings while he works himself into a groove in his first ever full time starting job in the majors. If he projects the way their scouts believe that he could, the Padres may have gotten a steal in this waiver claim.