Waiver claim roundup

In the midst of the qualifying offer frenzy that was today, a quintet of players were claimed on the waiver wire. Below, is a recap of Monday's minor transactions .

Nationals claim Eric Fornataro from Cardinals

Washington claimed the 26-year-old right-hander off waivers from St. Louis today, as the club announced on Twitter. Fornataro, a 2008 sixth round pick, made his major league debut this season, throwing a total of 9.2 innings over 8 games during the first half of the season. He posted a 4.66 ERA and 3.13 FIP,  while striking out three and walking one. He spent the remainder of the season at Triple-A Memphis, where he was quite good, with a 2.57 ERA in 56 innings out of the bullpen.

With the addition of Fornataro, the Nationals' 40-man roster is now full.

White Sox claim J.B. Shuck from Indians

The Chicago White Sox added a possible 2015 bench piece on Monday, claiming 27-year-old outfielder J.B. Shuck off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Shuck is coming off a disappointing season in which he hit just .145/.168/.209 in 114 plate appearances with the Indians and Angels. While his bat was terrible, defensive metrics were quite content with his play in the outfield (mainly left), as he saved approximately 6 runs according to defensive runs saved, while also posting a 34.0 UZR/150.

Shuck was among the more surprising rookie performers in 2013, as he hit .293/.331/.366 with a 98 OPS+, earning him a fifth place finish in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. While he offers little in the way of power (just four career home runs), he could still provide some value in a reserve role, which makes this a potentially rewarding pickup for the White Sox.

Astros claim Will Harris from Diamondbacks

According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, 30-year-old right-hander Will Harris is headed to Houston, as the Astros have claimed him from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Harris looks to be a potential middle relief option for the Astros next season, and has already shown the ability to get hitters out at the big league level. For his career, he owns a 4.26 ERA in 99.1 innings, but has a 3.42 ERA, 2.91 FIP, and 3.67 K/BB over the past two seasons since moving from Colorado to Arizona. This represents the third time that Harris has been claimed off waivers, as he was claimed twice (by the Athletics and Diamondbacks) in a three day span in April of 2013.

Rockies claim Jorge Rondon from Cardinals

Along with Fornataro, the Cardinals also lost Jorge Rondon on Monday, with the right-hander being claimed by the Colorado Rockies. Like Harris, Rondon could be in line for a big league job in 2015, as the 26-year-old has a heater that can reach triple digits and has already demonstrated success in the high minors, posting a 3.03 ERA, 7.36 K/9, and 2.89 BB/9 in 62.1 innings with Triple-A Memphis this season. He reached the majors for a single game in late June, allowing just one runner to reach base (via walk) in a single frame against the Dodgers.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies also designated 27-year-old Rob Scahill for assignment. The right-hander has a 4.42 ERA and 1.67 K/BB in 57 innings with the Rockies over the past three seasons.

Mariners claim Carlos Rivero from Red Sox

The Seattle Mariners have announced the addition of infielder Carlos Rivero from the Boston Red Sox. The 26-year-old third baseman, shortstop, and outfielder reached the majors for the first time this season, going 4-for-7 with a walk and home run in a 4 game sample. He spent a majority of the season at the minor league level, split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting a combined .264/.324/.379 in 105 games played.

The Red Sox also outrighted infielder Jonathan Herrera, who has elected to become a free agent. Losing Herrera and Rivero brings the Red Sox' 40-man roster count down to 36, but eliminates any depth at the shortstop position. As suggested by Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the Red Sox could look to replace the two by signing a utility infielder that can slot in at Triple-A.