If the Yankees want to get rid of Kei Igawa, they have their chance.
The Padres, continuing in their attempt to upgrade their starting rotation, have claimed Igawa off waivers, major league sources told FOXSports.com.
San Diego was awarded the claim on Friday, and the two teams have until the end of the weekend to work out a trade for the 28-year-old Japanese pitcher. If no deal can be worked out in that time frame, Igawa would remain in New York for at least the rest of the season.
No American League team put a claim on Igawa, nor did any National League with a worse record than San Diego.
The Padres had expressed interest in the left-handed Igawa before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
The Yankees, despite being unhappy with Igawa's performance this year, are unlikely to part ways with their first-year pitcher after having paid $26 million during the off-season merely to negotiate with Igawa's former Japanese club, the Hanshin Tigers. Igawa signed a five-year, $20 million deal with New York.
The Padres, meanwhile, cut ties with David Wells earlier this week, after the 44-year-old struggled mightily in his last few starts. Justin Germano and Wil Ledezma currently round out San Diego's rotation, and the Padres clearly feel that Igawa would be an upgrade.
Igawa, who has struggled through most of the season with control problems, has been optioned to the minor leagues twice already this year. In his time in the bigs, he is 2-3 with a 6.79 ERA, having walked 32 batters in just 62 1/3 innings.
