by Ken Rosenthal

Both Ibanez and Washburn were claimed on waivers Tuesday, according to major-league sources. The claiming teams are not yet known, but the Mariners have until 1:30 p.m. Thursday to work out a deal with those respective clubs.

Ibanez would be a perfect fit for the Tampa Bay Rays. The question is whether another American League team would allow him to slip to the Rays, who are reeling from injuries to left fielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria.

Players pass through waivers in the reverse order of the standings, with teams in the same league getting the first shot at a claim. To fall to the Rays, who own the American League's second-best record, Ibanez would need to get through every AL club but the Angels.

When the Red Sox claimed the Padres' Brian Giles, another left-handed hitting outfielder, they were motivated at least in part by a desire to block Giles from getting to the Rays, sources say. Giles invoked his no-trade clause to the Red Sox to stop a deal, ending any chance he will be moved in August.

The Rays' need for Ibanez grew after they lost Crawford on Saturday night to a tendon problem in his right hand that could force him to miss the rest of the season. The team then learned Monday that Longoria would be sidelined for three weeks with a fractured wrist.

Both those injuries occurred before Ibanez was placed on waivers; the Red Sox and other AL contenders would have been motivated to claim him to keep him away from the Rays. Ibanez is owed about $1.5 million in remaining salary; the Sox were willing to take on more than that with Giles.

Even if the Rays were awarded the claim on Ibanez, they would still have to negotiate a deal with the Mariners, who turned down several chances to move the veteran before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

The M's also declined to trade Washburn prior to the deadline, even though the Yankees showed interest. The Yankees, however, declined to claim Washburn on waivers, sources say, believing that their hitting is a greater problem than their starting pitching.

Washburn, who turns 34 on Wednesday, is 5-12 with a 4.58 ERA this season, including 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in August after a strong July. He is owed the remainder of his $9.85 million salary this season and $10.35 million next season.

Ibanez, 36, is batting .287 with a .351 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 80 RBIs. He is owed the remainder of his $5.5 million salary, and is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.