The Dodgers have claimed starter Esteban Loaiza off waivers from the A's. Loaiza comes with a price - he's owed $8.4 million on the three-year contract he signed with Oakland before the 2006 season, plus he has a $7.5 million option or a $375,000 buyout in 2009 - but that might actually turn out to be a good deal for the Dodgers, who are so desperate for starting pitching that they recently put David Wells in their rotation. Loaiza says he feels good despite missing the first several months of the season with various injuries, and he pitched at least seven innings in both his starts this year, only allowing three runs total. He didn't strike anyone out, however.
Nice move by L.A., and not so good for Oakland, who probably could have moved Loaiza in the offseason and actually gotten something for him then.