The Red Sox placed Jon Lester on waivers this month and he was claimed, according to a report.

After the claim was made, the Red Sox pulled Lester back off waivers rather than trade him or allow another team to assume his contract.

Lester will earn $11.625 million next year and his contract includes a $13 million team option for 2014.

It appears as though Alfonso Soriano will spend the remainder of the season with the Cubs.

Soriano, who vetoed a trade to the Giants last month, was placed on waivers.

Chicago is expected to address trading Soriano this winter.

The Blue Jays received calls about Aaron Sanchez, the 34th pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, but they refused to deal him at last month's deadline.

Toronto scouting director Andrew Tinnish saw Sanchez pitch four times before they selected him.

"There was not one particular moment that stood out," Tinnish said. "He had such a good delivery. He sat at 92 and even when he hit 95, he was effortless. There wasn't that one moment, but there was consistency. When I got a chance to meet him, he was a kid focused on getting to the big leagues. 

"I've seen him sit on 95 and not even break a sweat. Every time I see him, his curve ball gets better."

Sanchez has made great strides over the last two years, which is why the Blue Jays are holding onto him.

"No wonder they didn't trade Sanchez. We heard they had all kinds of offers for him at the deadline. They did the right thing holding on to him," a veteran evaluator said.

The Red Sox have no plans to claim Joe Mauer on trade waivers.

The Twins placed Mauer on waivers earlier this week.

Boston has long lusted after Mauer, but they aren't ready to take on a huge contract after dealing the cumbersome deals of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to the Dodgers.

The Twins placed Joe Mauer on waivers Tuesday, according to a source.

There is already speculation that the Red Sox, who cut $275 million in salary obligations in a trade with the Dodgers over the weekend, could claim Mauer.

The Red Sox have long coveted Mauer, but general manager Ben Cherington has indicated that he will be more disciplined in regards to major contracts.

Mauer, 29, has about $142.5 million remaining on his contract, including $138 million from 2013 to 2018.

According to a source close to the Red Sox, they are unlikely to take on that much salary so soon after shedding the contracts of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.

The Brewers placed Shaun Marcum on waivers Tuesday.

The deadline for players to make postseason rosters is Friday night, making Marcum's Thursday start against the Cubs well-timed.

Marcum has pitched only once since missing more than two months with right elbow tightness.

It is "possible" that the Rangers could trade Roy Oswalt before Friday's deadline.

The Dodgers, Nationals and White Sox have been linked to Oswalt as they seek pitching for the stretch run.

Chicago may be an unlikely destination as a source indicated that Texas doesn't want to trade Oswalt to an American League club.

"I don't have any say-so," said Oswalt, who confirmed that he has cleared waivers. "If they trade me, I would have to go. I'm just going to do what they tell me to do."

Justin Morneau was claimed on waivers a few days ago, but no trade was completed and the Twins will keep him.

Morneau is hitting .274/.332/.472 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 104 games this season.

The Dodgers called the Yankees about trades for CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira.

The Dodgers, looking to be proactive ahead of free agency, called high-payroll teams in July to let them know they were willing to take on huge contracts.

Los Angeles has taken on the contracts of Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett this summer.

The Yankees told the Dodgers that they had no interest in moving either Sabathia, who has four years and $99 million left on his deal after the season, or Teixeira, who has $90 million left on his contract through 2016.

It isn't believed that Alex Rodriguez's name came up in talks.

The Red Sox placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on trade waivers recently.

Matsuzaka was put on waivers before Monday afternoon's exceptional outing against Kansas City, which may have increased his value.