San Diego Padres

Why was the front office quick to shed right-hander Tyson Ross after failing to trade him before the trade deadline?

He went on waivers, where he was claimed, and was allowed to go to the Cardinals on Aug. 5. The move saved more than $500,000 in salary plus a $200,000 bonus for every one of Ross’ next seven starts.

The money can be applied to the 2018 draft signing budget. The club, because of its National League-worst won-lost record, would have the NL’s highest draft-budget ceiling.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles also was allowed to leave on waivers, saving the club about $120,000. He joined Milwaukee.

Padres manager Andy Green framed the moves as clearing spots for pitching prospects. One name on the promotion list is Brett Kennedy, who was 10-0 with a 2.70 ERA in Class AAA.

❚ A pitching prospect unlikely to appear with the team this year is Chris Paddack, who returned on April 30 from Tommy John elbow surgery. Through 80 innings in high Class A and Class AA, he had 110 strikeouts, seven walks and a 1.91 ERA.

“Those crazy baboons ...” Diamondbacks’ Twitter feed After ESPN’s Pedro Gomez accidentally tweeted that the team’s home game was delayed “because a baboon went through town and overloaded the grid, knocking some lights out.” Gomez’s auto-correct function had turned haboob — an intense dust storm — into baboon.