what does designate for assignment mean

How Does Designate For Assignment Work? [reasons, Process, & Outcomes]

If you follow Major League Baseball, then you must have heard of the term Designate for Assignment (DFA). When a player is DFA in baseball, various things can happen. Seeing this, you may ask, “what does designate for assignment mean?”

Designate for Assignment is a contractual term in MLB where the team removes the player from the active 40-man roster but still has the rights to the player. DFA puts the player on a waiver period where other teams can claim him.

But why does a team DFA a baseball player? What happens when a team designates a player for an assignment? Continue scrolling till the end as I answer all your questions regarding DFA in baseball.

Table of Contents

DFA Meaning Baseball

DFA is a term in Major League Baseball (MLB), which is a short form of “Designate for Assignment”. It means removing a player from the active roster of the baseball team without immediately releasing the member.

Many people confuse releasing with DFA. But they are different things. When a team designates a player for assignment, it is setting aside the player, not completely releasing them from the team.

Reasons for Designating Players for Assignment

A team can designate a player due to various reasons. It can be for changing the game strategy and tactics or trying to strengthen the team.

Reasons for designating players for assignment

Here are the most common reasons why a baseball designates a player for assignment:

  • Performance issues: Performance reason is the primary reason for DFA. If a player fails to perform well and does not meet the team’s expectations, then the management may decide to DFA him and take someone else on the team.

The performance issues can be anything from struggling with batting to poor fielding or pitching and more. Even though the player is not performing well, the team may not want to leave the player completely. That is why they opt for DFA.

  • Making room for new players: If the management finds an excellent performer outside the team, then they might decide to DFA an existing player. It will create room for the new player.

The new player may come from performing fantastically in the minor league. Plus, the management may also trade in new players from other teams.

  • Creating balance in the team: Although the management plans well before listing their roster, they can still find an imbalance in the team. Besides, they may also want to switch players to change their game strategy.

In that case, designating a player for assignment from the team can be the best solution. It will allow the team to bring in a new player with the required skill to create balance in the baseball team.

  • Trade options: Teams may also want to trade a player and that is why they do DFA. If the team directly releases the player, it will not give them any financial benefit. But they can DFA the player and look for trade opportunities.

If any other team is interested in the player, they may try to buy the designated player. In that case, the original team will get financial benefits from the trade.

  • Injuries: Injuries can also be a reason for DFA. Athletes can get injured at any time while playing. If the injury lasts long, it can hurt the team as that member can not play for the team.

In that case, the team usually DFA the injured player. Then the team brings in fit baseball players to continue the campaign with a full active 40-man roster. 

Designate for Assignment Process

Designate for Assignment in baseball is usually made by the team’s front office. It includes the coaching staff and general manager. They evaluate the player’s performance and the team’s need to make the call.

Once they make the decision, they will let the player and the MLB authority know about it. The team management will also inform the media about the decision to keep the fans updated and also let other teams know about player availability.

What Happens After Designation for Assignment?

When a player is designated for assignment, he enters the waiver period. It means the other baseball teams have the opportunity to claim the player. The waiver period usually lasts 7 days in MLB.

If another team claims the player during this waiver period, then they get all the rights to the player and can move him to their active roster. Such trading is common in other sports too.

In this scenario, the team who designated that player for assignment relinquishes all the rights of the player. Now, the new team will take care of the player’s contract and salary.

what happens designation for assignment

However, if no other team claims the player during the waiver period, he will be outright assigned to the minor leagues. It will happen when the player has minor league options remaining and is not claimed off waivers.

If the player is outrighted to the minor leagues, he will be removed from the MLB team’s 40-man roster. But he will remain with the organization and enjoy all the benefits.

Interestingly, the player has two choices here. He can either accept the outright assignment and play in the minor leagues or can ask for release and become a free agent.

Many players often are not interested in playing in the minor leagues. In that case, they ask for release after the DFA. Then he becomes a free agent, and any other MLB team can sign that player.

1. What is the difference between DFA and being released?

The main difference between DFA and being released is that the team retains the right to the player in DFA. But when the team releases a player in baseball, it terminates all the contracts between them, and the team holds no right to the player.

2. What is the difference between options and designated for assignment?

The main difference between options and designated for assignment is that the option allows the team to send the player to the minor leagues without putting him into the waiver period. That means no other team can claim the player. 

3. Can a player refuse assignment after being designated for assignment?

No. A player usually does not hold the right to refuse a designate for assignment. However, if he has been with MLB for over 3 years or has been outrighted previously, he can refuse the outright assignment.

4. Can a team designate a player for assignment multiple times?

Yes. A team can designate a player multiple times during their contract period. Whenever the team feels that the player is failing to meet the team’s expectations, they can DFA the player.

My Opinion on DFA

DFA in baseball can be tough for players. The miseries enhance when no other team shows interest in claiming or trading that player.

But it is good practice to get better team results in the MLB. The process allows the team to reorganize and improve their performance. Besides, it also allows the player to look for better opportunities in other teams.

For these reasons, I think DFA is a pretty good option for both the team and the player. It can benefit both parties.

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Jason Butler_Honest Baseball

Hello everyone. My name is  Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player.  I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego. 

I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit. 

What does 'DFA' mean in baseball? It's not an endearing abbreviation.

Albert Pujols . David Ortiz. Alex Rodriguez. Manny Ramirez. Nelson Cruz. Robinson Cano. Justin Upton.

Ortiz is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pujols is a lock for the Hall. Cruz is a future candidate for Cooperstown. And all were former major league All-Stars.

What do they all have in common?

Each of them have been DFA'd during their major league baseball career.

Ultimately, it means the player is cut from a team. It's one of several transactions that can happen to an MLB player. But it's a more common process for players who are in the latter years of their career and in the middle of a contract.

MLB SALARIES: Baseball's top 25 highest-paid players in 2024

What does DFA mean in baseball?

Designated for assignment.

It's one of the more unique transaction types in baseball, where unlike being traded, the player is optioned to the minor leagues or simply cut from the roster.

What does being designated for assignment mean?

Teams are allowed to have 40 players on their roster, with 26 of them active on the major league roster. Over the course of the season, teams make roster moves, which sometimes involves cutting a player. In order to take someone off the 40-man roster, they must be designated for assignment.

MLB.com explains the process: "When a player's contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated "DFA" — that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction (had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers."

Can another team claim a DFA'd player?

Yes, any team can pick up a player off waivers. However, if that team claims the player, they would have to add the player to their 40-man roster.

More baseball fun facts

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  • Who invented baseball?

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What is Designated for Assignment (DFA) Mean in Baseball?

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Of all the distinctive terms used in Major League Baseball, “Designated for assignment” must be near the top of the list for the hardest to explain to new fans. When a player is declared this, often stated as “He was DFA’d,” what exactly does it mean?

Designated for assignment refers to a player’s contract, and it means the team will immediately remove that player from its 40-man roster. For MLB fans, it means you will no longer be seeing that player on that team, at least for a decent spell.

Typically MLB teams do this to clear space for another move, or simply to rid a player from the squad entirely.

Once a player is officially DFA’d, a 7-day period begins, where the club must make a decision about the next destination for that player. In other words, it’s a way for baseball teams to put a player in temporary limbo while they try to figure out their roster situation.

During the 7-day period, that player can be sent to one of the team’s minor league affiliates; traded to another team; or placed on waivers, a list of players for other teams to acquire (under certain rules).

Basically, when you see this term attached to a player, that person is being moved off the regular MLB team at least for the time being. Sometimes, though not often, they are returned to their original team.

Baseball Club Options with Players Designated for Assignment

Once a player is DFA’d, the clock starts for the club to pick an option for that player’s immediate future. Those options are:

  • Assign the player to one of a minor league team affiliated with the club. (This is not available for all players; see Common Questions at bottom).
  • Place the player on the Waiver Wire . This move begins another type of clock ~ where other teams can take the player, under the league’s waiver rules.

2B. If the player on the waiver wire is claimed, his new team must immediately put him on their 40-man roster.

2C. If the player, over a specified period of time, is unclaimed from waivers, he can be assigned to his previous team’s minor league system. Unless: The player has enough service time in the major leagues, or has run out of minor league options (See below), in which case he becomes a free agent who can sign a contract with any team.

  • The player could be released from his contract, that is, set entirely free to go play with any other team. In such instances, the club is responsible for paying the player according to the terms of their contract together.

Types of Rosters in Major League Baseball

All this talk assumes fans know what a 40-man roster is ~ and it’s not just the list of players the current MLB team can use for games. That would be the 26-man roster.

Here’s a breakdown of the 2 types of MLB rosters, which are essentially lists of their players who either can be used in games (26-man), or who are in line to play in games in the near future as well (40-man).

26-Man Roster in MLB

The 26-man roster (or 24- or 25-man rosters in seasons past) is for players available to participate in MLB game play. Players not on the 26-man roster, such as those on injured lists, or in the minor leagues, cannot be entered into an MLB game.

So, MLB teams cannot just sign anyone off the street and instantly insert them into a game. Well, maybe not instantaneously, but at least a full day. However, even that would involve some juggling of personnel, as noted in this article.

40-Man Roster in MLB

what is designated for assignment in mlb

A club’s 40-man roster is filled by a combination of players on the 26-man roster; along with players on various injured lists (7-, 10-, and 15-day injured lists); on an emergency list for bereavement or a family medical emergency; and some minor league players.

All players on a 26-man roster are also on the 40-man roster. That leaves a club 14 spots to manage all year long ~ and not just during the regular season.

The 40-man roster is important to watch during the offseason , as all those players are protected from other teams “taking” them in what’s called the Rule 5 Draft, held at the end of every year during the MLB’s Winter Meetings.

Notes on the Rule 5 Draft in Major League Baseball

Since 1920, the Rule 5 Draft has given minor league players opportunities with new MLB clubs ~ if their original club did not protect them from this draft by keeping them on the 40-man roster.

The way it works is, clubs with a spot open on their own 40-man roster select players not on 40-man rosters of the other clubs. This ends up like the regular MLB draft, with teams selecting in reverse order of the standings the previous season.

Players are eligible for selection if they are not on their team’s 40-man roster at the time of the draft, and they have either spent 4 seasons in professional baseball after signing at age 19 or older; or spent 5 seasons in pro ball after signing at age 18 or younger.

Even when drafting an eligible player, it’s not over. The new team pays the player’s previous club $100,000, places the player on its 40-man roster, AND then must keep the player on the 26-man roster for the entire next season.

This last requirement makes selecting other team’s unprotected minor league players a true challenge, as they do not yet know if that player will succeed at the major league level. If not, the team pretty much loses a roster spot through season’s end, filled by a player who can hardly contribute.

If the new club takes that player off the 26-man roster, however, it has to offer to return him to his previous team for $50,000.

Perhaps the most famous Rule 5 case was that of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 19 and buried on their Montreal, Canada minor league team, where he got all of 155 at bats .

That didn’t fool Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who that winter selected Clemente in the Rule 5 Draft ~ and then had to keep him on the roster that next season even as he struggled as a young foreign player competing at the game’s highest level.

Eventually the Puerto Rican hero came around, and became one of the best outfielders of all time.

Why Does ‘Designated for Assignment’ in Baseball Have to be So Complicated?

This all may seem confusing, but this system of using players in MLB game play, and also having extra players in case of injuries or emergencies, has evolved with the game. It’s a necessary structure that MLB clubs agree to abide by, for a lot of reasons, avoiding mayhem among them.

When a new fan sees these types of terms, usually in the agate type or side notes in sports sections, or sometimes added to the end of game news reports, they should consider just how hard it is to field a professional baseball team on a near-daily basis.

Baseball might look leisurely to play, but in reality the players exert parts of their body quite extensively ~ in some instances beyond what they are capable of naturally. A summary of a baseball player’s body that could force him off the field at any time:

  • Arms . This includes shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers ~ all essential for baseball players to compete at all. The shoulders and elbows, in particular, are punished by the act of throwing a 5-ounce ball repeatedly over extended periods of time.
  • Legs . Baseball is not a game of constant motion like the other major team sports. There is a lot of very instant starting, and quick stopping, which puts a lot of pressure on the tendons, ligaments, and joints of the legs. Knees and ankles give baseball players trouble, due to the starting-stopping, plus a lot of twisting involved in hitting and throwing.
  • Core . This includes the abdomen, hips, and upper thighs. Probably more than the other major team sports, baseball is very tough on the middle of the body , mainly due to all the twisting. Batting, in particular, requires a tremendous twist of the torso to get the bat through the hitting zone, which can impact many muscle groups, as well as the spine.
  • Back . Baseball players are susceptible to back injuries, mainly due to either overextending, or under-stretching. Often it’s a combination of both.

Add to all that the mental aspect of living life (e.g. having a wife and family) while away from home for weeks at a time, and the constant stress of having to perform well to remain in the game (and make more money). All the games, practices, stress, travel, loneliness, and more, can take a toll on any ballplayer.

In summary, any of these body (and mind) areas can take a baseball player out of service, maybe just for a few days, or a few weeks, or even many months. You can tell how often players get hurt by the MLB’s types of injured lists: the 7-day, 15-day, and 60-day injured list.

Roster Management in Baseball

All this gets us to the people responsible for getting the best players possible on the field during any MLB game. It’s not as simple as sending out the same 9 guys day in and day out. Pitchers in particular cannot pitch every single day, so extra pitchers must be brought along.

Some players might hurt a body part, but not in a major way, so all they need is a bit of rest. In these instances, pro baseball teams need a bench full of replacement players waiting to get in the game.

There’s also some competitive strategy involved. Baseball clubs can make changes to their roster daily, so if they foresee a problem upcoming, they can make roster changes to address it. Examples:

  • Lengthy road trips . A club seeing a long stretch of games away from home might carry an extra pitcher just for that period. When they return home, they might send that extra pitcher back to the high minor leagues.
  • Opposition strengths and weaknesses. The MLB regular-season schedule can be quirky, and sometimes teams play the same squads, or groups of them (e.g. from the same division), repeatedly over a short period. Maybe a club manager sees a group of upcoming games where every team has a lot of left-handed pitchers. Then, he may choose to swap out left-handed hitters, and add in more righties, just for that period of time.

In other words, the managers (and general managers) of MLB teams are constantly tinkering with their rosters, for a lot of reasons. Terms like DFA exist to add structure to all of this, in an attempt to ensure fairness for all the clubs, and avoid anarchy.

In summary, the designated for assignment system exists so MLB teams can add a newly acquired player onto their roster ~ through a free agent signing, a trade, a waiver wire grab, or to pull a player up from a minor league team; or to address players bouncing between the injured lists.

Whenever a player is getting healthy enough to return, fans usually get quite excited. But understand, for every player returning to play, another is forced to leave.

Common Questions

Question: what is the difference between being designated for assign and being “optioned”.

Answer: Remaining on the 40-man roster, or not. To be optioned means a player on the 40-man roster is moved to an “optional assignment” with one of the club’s minor league affiliates. An “option” is good for an entire season; and players only get so many options before clubs can no longer send them to a minor league team for roster management purposes. With DFA, if a player has an option remaining, that is something the club could choose to do in the 7-day “decision” period.

Q.: Why do teams only get 7 days to decide what to do with DFA’d players?

A.: It’s according to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is the operating structure of the MLB between clubs and players. This period is adjusted periodically upon agreement of a majority of owners and the players. For instance, in the CBA of 2012-16, the period was 10 days.

Force out: What happens to players who are designated for assignment?

This has been a big year for one of baseball's most mundane transactions.

From Hanley Ramirez to Matt Harvey, from Phil Hughes to Melky Cabrera, from Adrian Gonzalez to Pedro Alvarez, there may never have been a season with more big names listed in the depths of the newspaper agate pages under those three cruel words: Designated for assignment.

When a team decides to DFA a player, he's taken off the 40-man roster immediately, and the team has seven days - a change this season, as previously it was 10 days - to trade him, send him outright to the minor leagues after he clears waivers, or release him. That is what happens from an official standpoint, but it's easy to forget that there is an actual person whose life is turned upside down when the DFA comes.

Imagine being a professional baseball player, but all of a sudden you have nowhere to play baseball. What do you do?

"It's a complete case-by-case basis," said Angels outfielder Chris Young, who was DFA'd by the Mets in August of 2014, then released before signing with the Yankees and rejuvenating his career.

"I went home, continued to work out and hit, and then I got the phone call from the Yankees. You don't know anything. I didn't know anything. I was just hopeful that another opportunity would come my way, and when it did, try to take advantage of it."

Young makes it sound fairly simple, but just going home and working out to stay in game shape is a challenge. If and when another team comes calling, the opportunity to make an impression can be fleeting.

The best way to prepare for that would be to head to the organization's minor league facility, hit the gym, and get some reps on the field with minor leaguers. When a player is designated for assignment, though, that is not an option - even if the team's plan is for an outright assignment to the minors. During that week, the player is not part of the team, but also not free.

what is designated for assignment in mlb

"You're in limbo," said former Cubs infielder Jeff Huson, now a Rockies broadcaster, remembering when he was designated for assignment in 1996 by the Orioles . "You either go home, or you stay in the city for a few days. In my case, I waited around for a few days because I got DFA'd by Baltimore, and I stayed there because I didn't want to go home, because what if it's an East Coast team that claims me? Then I'd have to go all the way back.

"You literally sit there not knowing what your future's gonna hold. It's the worst possible case for a player, because you have no home, and you're trying to stay in shape - where do you go? You maybe go to a high school field? Play some video games and the quarters you have left over, go in the cage? Think about playing in a major-league game, then going to some warehouse and hitting off a machine, or even if you can find somebody to throw to you, they're not going to be as good as what you get in the major leagues.”

At the same time that physical challenge is foisted upon a player, there's also the mental one. It's not just the potential ennui of being without a team, but of having been cut from a 40-man roster. How a player handles that can have a lot to do with what happens next, and seizing that opportunity.

"I never took it as anything bad or looked too far into it when all I could do was just keep working on stuff," said Yankees reliever A.J. Cole, who had a 13.06 ERA when the Nationals designated him for assignment in April, and has posted a 0.69 mark in seven appearances with New York since a trade for cash considerations. "I needed to keep doing what I need to do as a pitcher.

"Everyone says it's always good to get a good start in a different place, and sometimes it is. Right now, it's really helping me, and there's some great guys here that help me out. It's a fun place to play here."

Not every player gets to land with a team as good as this year's Yankees, but there can be positives in other ways. Cubs catcher Chris Gimenez has been DFA'd four times in his career, thrice during the season. His experiences have varied from heading to the minors - "once you decide to accept the assignment, you're champing at the bit to get there" - to being traded to a Cleveland team in 2016 that wound up going to the World Series.

what is designated for assignment in mlb

That was Gimenez's third time with Cleveland, having made his debut there in 2009, with stops in Seattle , Tampa Bay , and Texas before returning to Ohio in 2014.

"That was the one that kind of sticks with me," Gimenez said. "In that case, it worked out good, because my wife was basically ready to have our second son. We had two times where we went into the hospital and nothing happened, and that kind of gave me an extra three days. The terrible thing was, we were building our house where we live now, so we were staying with her parents, and our 3-year-old son, at the time, was there. It was a little bit of a crowded spot, and I appreciate her parents letting us stay there, because it wasn't the original plan the way everything happened.

"I ended up spending six days at home - three on the paternity leave, and three after I (was designated for assignment). Then I got the next flight to Texas, and ended up coming home like four days after that anyway - I got traded, was there for a day, then my wife had our son. It was a lot of travel for a few days, but that's alright.

"Every possible way that could've happened to me, it's happened in my career, but that's how it goes, and you can either let it affect you, or just suck it up and go about your business."

Jesse Spector is the sports business columnist for Dealbreaker, a columnist for Rockies Magazine, the host of "Jesse Spector Is..." on Lightning Power Play Radio, and one of the hosts of the Locked On Yankees podcast. He previously was the national baseball and hockey writer for Sporting News, covered the New York Rangers for the Daily News, and worked for SportsTicker, the Associated Press, and the Brooklyn Eagle. He lives in New York.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Bits Of Baseball: What Does DFA Mean in Baseball

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what does dfa mean in baseball

As with other sports, baseball has a language of its own. There is a lot of jargon and lingo that you will have to know to get the most out of any baseball game. One of these terms is DFA. So, what does DFA mean in baseball?

DFA is short for Designated for Assignment and is a contractual term used in the baseball realm. Essentially, it refers to when a player is eliminated from a team’s 40-man roster and placed on waivers for other teams to claim.

You may have heard about this if you follow the Major League games and subscribe to baseball news. Most recently, renowned player Alber Pujols was designated for assignment by the Angels, stunning many fans and followers. It was a surprising announcement that prompted many people to search for the true meaning and implications of FDAs in the baseball context.

Indeed, there is plenty to know about this three-letter abbreviation. Various components complicate this notion, making it difficult for those that are outside of the baseball business to wrap their heads around.

Understanding this, we have put together a comprehensive but succinct guide for your reference. Read on to find out all about this niche topic of DFA baseball!

designate-for-assignment

What Does DFA Mean in Baseball and the Technicalities Around DFA in Baseball

The reason for designated for assignments (dfas) in baseball.

dfa-baseball

To set the stage for explaining the technicalities around DFA (Designated for Assignment), here are a few short definitions of relevant baseball terms:

  • Waivers: These are special permission granted for assignment of player contracts in the case of unconditional release from the Major League. Waivers are placed on players, who can be claimed by clubs and teams. Essentially, a waived player is up for grabs.
  • 40-Man Roster: Every Major League baseball team consists of 40 players, of which 25 are active. The remaining players are still signed to contracts with that team but are on the injured list or take other spots in the team’s Minor League system.

Now that you have a basic idea of the lingo around this topic, we can delve into the detailed explanation of DFAs in baseball.

When a baseball player’s contract is set to be designated for assignment, the player is taken off his or her current club’s 40-man roster and placed on waivers. Within three business days, any other team can claim the player. When it comes to claims, the priority goes to the league, in which the player is already a part of.

For example, if a player is in the American League, other American teams can get dips on the player. Between two or more teams that want to claim the player, the team with the lower record gets to make the pickup. If a player is claimed before July 31st, the new team can take up his or her contract and the player will be automatically added to that team’s 40-man roster, or they can work out a trade with the original team.

Another possible scenario is the original team pulling the member back and off waivers, wherein the player returns to the 40-man roster, or is put on waivers again. But, the second time, the original team cannot revoke claims and will have to either give the player’s contract up to the new team or accept a trade.

If the player is not claimed after three days, his or her fate is decided by the original team. One of the three following scenarios will occur:

1. The player is outrighted or sent to the Minor League

2. The player is released and becomes a free agent

3. The player is traded into another team

But, at this point, there are a few other quite important aspects to note as well.

  • A player can only be placed on waivers for the first seven days of a 10-day grace period. A player who has been outrighted is still paid the same amount on his/her guaranteed contract.
  • A player can only be outrighted without consent once in his or her entire career.
  • A player who has been in the Major League for more than five years cannot be outrighted without consent.

If a player, in this case, refuses to be outrighted, he or she has to be returned to the 40-man roster or released as a free agent. In the latter scenario, the player can sign with other teams and clubs on his or her own. The team that released him or her will have to cover the salary the player is owed minus what he or she is offered by the new team.

  • Trades can only take place up until July 31st if waivers are not cleared.
  • A player who has been in the Major League for 10 years and five years with his or her team cannot be traded without consent. This is also commonly referred to as the 10-and-5 rule.

When a player is on any 40-man roster, he or she will be granted three option years. Here, option means optional assignments. The player can be promoted to the Major League or demoted to the Minor League as many times as the parent club decides for three seasons.

Afterward, the player is out of options and he or she must be placed on waivers again. Once waivers are cleared, the player can be optioned back to the Minor League.

DFAs happen because a team may want to open a slot on their 40-man roster for:

1. A new member to come up from the Minor League

2. A new member, by trade or free agency, to be activated in the 40-man roster

3. A player returning for activation from the injured list

Simply put, when designating players for assignments, a team is making “roster room” for someone else to join their 40-man list.

designated-for-assignment

Aside from the most recent DFAed player Alber Pujols, here are some of the names that have hit the headlines following announcements of DFAs:

  • Hanley Ramirez
  • Hunter Renfroe
  • Hunter Pence
  • Tim Collins
  • Preston Guilmet
  • Dixon Machado

You may have heard of these players, especially if you are a baseball enthusiast. For more, however, go through this tracker on MLB Trade Rumors.

So, there you have it! You have finished this article featuring the full answer to: “What does DFA mean in baseball?” Enjoy baseball games on TV and the headlines in a new light now that you have been enlightened! Hopefully, you were able to pick up a lot of valuable niche information.

If you have any other follow-up questions or thoughts regarding this, do not hesitate to leave a comment. We are always ready to hear from our readers. Also, share this article with your friends and family so they can learn about FDAs in baseball!

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what is designated for assignment in mlb

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MLB options, waivers and outright assignments, explained

Here’s a glossary of what MLB transaction terms really mean.

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Seattle Mariners v Detroit Tigers

Now that the 2017 World Series is over, Major League Baseball teams are wasting no time in making moves to adjust their rosters for the 2018 season.

Andrew Romine was placed on waivers and claimed by the Seattle Mariners . Jim Adduci cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minor leagues. Alex Presley cleared waivers, was outrighted, and elected free agency. Tyler Collins cleared waivers, was outrighted, and might elect free agency. Kyle Ryan, Myles Jaye , Bryan Holaday , and Efren Navarro were also placed on outright waivers. Eight players, all placed on waivers, with different situations.

Here is how they work.

What are waivers?

Waivers are a way for a major league team to take a player off its 40-man roster in order to send him outright to the minor leagues, or release him and let him become a free agent. A player cannot be removed from the 40-man roster without first clearing waivers, where all 29 other teams have a chance to claim that player, and his existing contract, for a modest waiver fee.

What are MLB options?

An option (optional assignment) allows a club to move a player on its 40-man roster to and from the minor leagues without exposing him to other teams.

Once a player is added to a team’s 40-man roster, his team has three options, or three different seasons in which the club may to send him to the minor leagues without having to clear waivers. A player on the 40-man roster playing in the minors is on optional assignment. There is no limit on the number of times a club may promote and demote a player during one option season.

A player must spend at least 20 days total in the minor leagues during one season (not including rehabilitation assignments) in order to be charged with an option. John Hicks was sent up and down a half dozen times during the 2017 season, but used just one option.

When a player is out of options, he cannot be sent to the minors without first clearing waivers. Also, a player who has accrued at least five years of major league service time may not be optioned to the minors without his consent. Hicks , as well as Bruce Rondon , Drew VerHagen , Matt Boyd and Buck Farmer are now out of options, so they will have to go on waivers if they don’t make the team in the spring.

There are three types of waivers.

Outright waivers

Outright waivers are used when a team wants to send a player to the minors but he is out of options. If the player clears waivers, he may be outrighted to the minor leagues.

However, a player may only be outrighted once during his career without his consent. When a player is outrighted for the second time or more, he may elect to become a free agent either immediately, if during the season, or as soon as the season is over, unless he is added back to the 40-man roster. This is why Tyler Collins can — and probably will — elect free agency.

A player with three years of major league service may also refuse an outright assignment and choose to become a free agent immediately or at the end of the season. Alex Presley, who has over four years of service time in the majors, rejected his outright assignment and chose free agency.

Release waivers

Release waivers are requested when a team wants to give a player his unconditional release.

Special waivers

Special Waivers , also known as revocable waivers or major league waivers, are used only between July 31 and the end of each season. These waivers are required in order to trade a player who is on the 40-man roster to another major league team after the trade deadline. Justin Verlander cleared waivers and was traded to the Houston Astros on August 31 in one of the most famous post-deadline trades ever.

What does it mean for a player to be designated for assignment?

A player may be designated for assignment (DFA) , giving the team 10 days to either trade him, or send him to the minor leagues, provided he clears waivers.

Romine and Presley were eligible for arbitration this offseason, and the Tigers were not prepared to risk going through that process with them. The same fate may await Bruce Rondon or Blaine Hardy, who are also eligible for arbitration this winter. BYB posted the projected salaries for the Tigers’ arbitration eligible players here .

Hardy still has an option year remaining, whereas Presley, Romine, and Rondon are all out of options.

The Tigers have until December 1 to offer a contract to their arbitration-eligible players. If they don’t make an offer, the player is said to be “non-tendered” and becomes a free agent.

Teams have until November 20 to submit their reserve lists of up to 40 players to the MLB office in advance of the Rule 5 draft. The Tigers will be adding some young players to the roster by that date, and will want to keep a spot or two open so that they may make a selection with their first pick in the draft on December 14.

Thursday was the day that players who are eligible for free agency became free agents, but the Tigers had no such players, having traded any would-be free agents during the season. Detroit formally declined their $16 million option on Anibal Sanchez on Thursday, paying him a $5 million buyout and making him a free agent.

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The Designated for Assignment (DFA) Process in Major League Baseball: Implications, Procedures, and Examples

what is designated for assignment in mlb

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what is designated for assignment in mlb

What does it mean to be designated for assignment?

To be designated for assignment in baseball means that a player has been removed from his team’s 40-man roster. This move is typically made when a team wants to make room for another player, or if the player’s performance has been disappointing or if he has become injured. Once a player is designated for assignment, the team has 7 days to trade him, release him, or place him on waivers. During this time, other teams have the opportunity to claim the player off waivers and assume his contract. If the player clears waivers, he can be assigned to the team’s minor league system or remain on the 40-man roster. Being designated for assignment can be a difficult and uncertain time for a player, as it often means he is at risk of losing his spot on the team and potentially even his career.

Why do teams designate players for assignment?

Teams designate players for assignment for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is to clear a roster spot for another player, either from their own minor league system or via a trade or free agent signing. Another reason could be due to a player’s poor performance, as a team may want to remove them from the active roster and give another player a chance to contribute. In some cases, a player may be designated for assignment if they become injured and the team needs to free up a roster spot for a healthy player. Finally, a team may designate a player for assignment if they are looking to trade the player and want to remove them from the active roster while negotiations are taking place. Regardless of the reason, being designated for assignment can be a difficult and uncertain time for a player, as their future with the team and in baseball is put into question.

What happens to a player who is designated for assignment?

When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the team’s active roster and placed on the 40-man roster’s “designated for assignment” list. The team then has 7 days to make a decision on the player’s future. During this time, the team can trade the player, release him, or place him on waivers. If the player clears waivers, the team can choose to assign him to their minor league system or keep him on the 40-man roster. If another team claims the player off waivers, they assume the player’s contract and roster spot.

For the player who has been designated for assignment, this can be a stressful and uncertain time, as their future with the team and in baseball is up in the air. They may be traded to another team, released and become a free agent, or sent to the minors, where they will need to work their way back up to the majors. The DFA process can have a significant impact on a player’s career and earning potential, as well as their confidence and morale.

The difference between designated for assignment and outright assignment While the terms “designated for assignment” (DFA) and “outright assignment” may seem similar, there is a key difference between the two. DFA is the process by which a player is removed from his team’s 40-man roster and given a 7-day window for the team to trade him, release him, or place him on waivers. If the player is not claimed off waivers, he can be assigned to the minor leagues or kept on the 40-man roster. On the other hand, outright assignment is the process by which a player is removed from both the 25-man and 40-man rosters and sent directly to the minor leagues. There is no 7-day window for a team to make a decision, and the player does not need to clear waivers. In other words, DFA is a more flexible process that allows the team to potentially retain the player or trade him, while outright assignment is a more direct demotion to the minor leagues. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but it’s important to understand the differences between the two. The impact of designated for assignment on a player’s career and future opportunities Being designated for assignment can have a significant impact on a player’s career and future opportunities. If a player is claimed off waivers by another team, he may be given a fresh start and the opportunity to contribute at the major league level. However, if the player clears waivers and is sent to the minors, his future in baseball may be uncertain. DFA can also have financial implications for both the player and the team. If the player is released, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team, but may not receive the same salary he had with his previous team. Additionally, if a team is unable to trade a player who has been designated for assignment, they may be responsible for paying a portion of the player’s salary. The DFA process can be emotionally challenging for players, as it can be difficult to see their careers and livelihoods put into question. However, some players have been able to bounce back from DFA and use the experience as motivation to improve and succeed at the major league level. Examples of notable players who have been designated for assignment Throughout baseball history, many notable players have been designated for assignment at some point in their careers. One example is David Ortiz, who was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins in 2002 before being released and signing with the Boston Red Sox, where he went on to become one of the greatest designated hitters of all time. Another example is Jose Bautista, who was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004 before being picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays and transforming into a two-time MLB home run champion. More recently, Albert Pujols, a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 before being picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. These players’ experiences illustrate that being designated for assignment does not necessarily mean the end of a player’s career, and that they can use the experience as motivation to succeed in the future. The role of waivers in the designated for assignment process Waivers play a crucial role in the DFA process. When a player is designated for assignment, he must be placed on waivers before he can be traded or outright released. Waivers give other teams in the league the opportunity to claim the player and assume his contract and roster spot. The waiver process is designed to promote competitive balance in the league by giving all teams an opportunity to claim players who have been designated for assignment, regardless of their place in the standings. However, the process can also be complex and unpredictable, as teams must weigh the potential benefits of claiming a player against the risks and costs associated with doing so. Waivers can be an especially important factor in the DFA process for players with larger contracts or for teams with limited payroll flexibility. In these cases, a player who clears waivers and is outright released may be more likely to be picked up by another team, as they would not be responsible for assuming the player’s full contract. How a player can appeal a DFA decision While it is rare for a player to successfully appeal a DFA decision, there are a few situations in which a player may have grounds for an appeal. For example, if a team designates a player for assignment due to an injury that was not disclosed or properly diagnosed, the player may be able to appeal the decision and potentially be reinstated on the team’s active roster. In order to appeal a DFA decision, the player must file a grievance with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) within 45 days of the transaction. The appeal will then be heard by an independent arbitrator, who will review the evidence presented by both the player and the team before making a final decision. While the appeal process can be time-consuming and expensive, it can provide a player with an opportunity to challenge a DFA decision and potentially continue his career at the major league level. The potential financial implications of designated for assignment for both players and teams Designating a player for assignment can have significant financial implications for both the player and the team. If the player is claimed off waivers, the team may be responsible for paying a portion of the player’s salary or may be relieved of the obligation entirely. If the player clears waivers and is outright released, the team may still be responsible for paying the remainder of the player’s contract, depending on the terms of the agreement. For the player, being designated for assignment can have long-term financial implications as well. If the player is released and becomes a free agent, he may struggle to find a team willing to offer him a similar contract. Additionally, if the player is sent to the minors, he may be paid a lower salary than he was making at the major league level. Overall, the financial impact of DFA can be significant and is an important factor for both players and teams to consider when making decisions about roster moves. The designated for assignment process in relation to the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement The DFA process is governed by the Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which outlines the rights and responsibilities of players and teams in relation to roster moves. The CBA includes provisions related to waivers, including the waiver claim process, which gives all teams in the league an opportunity to claim players who have been designated for assignment. The CBA also sets forth procedures for players to file grievances and challenge roster decisions, including DFA decisions, through the MLBPA. The CBA also sets minimum salary and service time requirements for players, which can impact a team’s decision to designate a player for assignment or keep him on the roster. Additionally, the CBA includes provisions related to arbitration, which can be used to resolve disputes between players and teams regarding contracts, salaries, and roster decisions. Overall, the DFA process is an important aspect of the MLB CBA, which governs many aspects of player contracts, salaries, and roster moves. Conclusion Being designated for assignment is a significant event in a player’s career that can have long-lasting implications. While the designated for assignment process is designed to give teams flexibility in managing their rosters, it can also be challenging for players who may be faced with uncertainty about their future. Waivers and financial considerations can also play important roles in the DFA process, and the procedures outlined in the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement provide a framework for resolving disputes and ensuring fair treatment of players. Ultimately, the DFA process is an important aspect of the MLB landscape that requires careful consideration by teams and players alike. FAQs

1. what happens to a player who is designated for assignment.

A player who is designated for assignment is removed from his team’s 40-man roster and can be placed on waivers or outright released. If the player is not claimed by another team within the designated time frame, he can be sent to the minor leagues or become a free agent.

2. What is the difference between DFA and outright assignment?

DFA refers to the process of designating a player for assignment and placing him on waivers, while outright assignment refers to the process of removing a player from the 40-man roster and sending him to the minor leagues without passing through waivers.

3. How can a player appeal a DFA decision?

days of the transaction, and an independent arbitrator will review the evidence before making a final decision.

4. What are the financial implications of DFA for players and teams?

DFA can have significant financial implications for both players and teams. Teams may be responsible for paying a portion of the player’s salary or may be relieved of the obligation entirely if the player is claimed off waivers. For the player, being designated for assignment can impact his salary and long-term earning potential.

5. What is the role of waivers in the DFA process?

Waivers are used to give all teams in the league an opportunity to claim players who have been designated for assignment. If the player is claimed, the team claiming him assumes the responsibility for his contract. If the player clears waivers, he can be outright released or sent to the minor leagues.

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Home » Why Do MLB Players Get Designated for Assignment (DFA)?

Why Do MLB Players Get Designated for Assignment (DFA)?

Designated for Assignment (DFA) is a term used in Major League Baseball (MLB) that refers to the process of a team removing a player from their 40-man roster. This is done for various reasons, such as to make room for new players, to demote a player to the minor leagues, or to cut ties with a player who is not performing. In this article, we’ll take a look at why MLB players get designated for assignment and some of the implications of the process.

The Role of Contracts in the DFA Process

One of the primary reasons players are designated for assignment is due to a team’s need to make room on their 40-man roster. Teams must maintain a 40-man roster of players who are eligible to play in the major leagues, so if a team wants to add a new player they must first remove an existing one. This is often done by designating a player for assignment.

Additionally, teams can use the DFA process to get out of a contract they no longer want. MLB contracts are guaranteed, meaning that teams are obligated to pay a player the full value of their contract even if they are released. However, if a player is designated for assignment, the team is only obligated to pay a portion of the remaining salary. This is one of the main reasons why teams will opt to designate a player for assignment instead of simply releasing them.

Implications of Being Designated for Assignment

When a player is designated for assignment, they are placed on waivers for a period of seven to ten days. During this time, any other team can claim the player and add them to their roster. If the player is not claimed, they are then sent outright to the minor leagues or released.

If a player is sent to the minor leagues, they have the option to refuse the assignment and become a free agent. This can be beneficial to the player since they can explore the market and find a team that is a better fit.

Another implication of being designated for assignment is that it can have a negative effect on a player’s reputation. Players that are released or sent to the minors often struggle to find another job in the MLB, as teams are wary of taking on a player with a history of being designated for assignment.

Reasons Why Players Get Designated for Assignment

There are a variety of reasons why teams may choose to designate a player for assignment. Here are some of the most common:

1. Performance

The most common reason a player is designated for assignment is due to their performance. If a team feels that a player is no longer meeting their expectations or is not progressing as they should, they may opt to move on and replace them with a different player.

If a player suffers an injury that will keep them out for an extended period of time, a team may opt to designate them for assignment in order to free up a roster spot. This is often done with the intention of re-signing the player once they have fully recovered from their injury.

Teams may also opt to designate a player for assignment in order to free up money for other players. This is often done with highly paid veterans who are nearing the end of their contracts and are no longer playing at an elite level.

4. Personal Reasons

In some cases, teams may designate a player for assignment due to personal reasons. This could be due to a player’s attitude or off-field behavior, or simply because the team is looking to move in a different direction.

Designated for Assignment (DFA) is a term used in Major League Baseball that refers to the process of a team removing a player from their 40-man roster. Teams use the DFA process for various reasons, such as to make room for new players, to demote a player to the minor leagues, or to cut ties with a player who is not performing. This article has explored why MLB players get designated for assignment and some of the implications of the process.

Designated for assignment

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Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball . When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster . This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed. After designating a player for assignment, the club must make one of the following contractual moves.

Place the player on waivers [ ]

Typically a player is placed on waivers after being designated for assignment for the purpose of outrighting him to one of the club's minor league teams. However, a player must clear waivers (that is, no other team may place a waiver claim on the player) to be sent to a minor league team. Also, if the player has five or more full years of major league service, he must give consent to be assigned to the minors. If the player withholds consent, the team must either release him or keep him on the major league roster. In either case, the player must continue to be paid under the terms of his contract.

Trade the player [ ]

Once a player is designated for assignment, he may be traded. Some teams have been known to designate players for assignment to increase interest in the player, especially among teams that are not at the top of the list for waivers. For example, in May 2006, Rangers reliever Brian Shouse was designated for assignment, and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers 4 days later. The Brewers could have waited until Shouse was placed on waivers so they would not have had to give up a player in a trade, but according to the waiver rules , the other 13 AL teams would have preference in claiming him. Also, under the "five and ten rule," if a player has ten years of Major League service, the last five of which with his current team, he cannot be traded without his consent.

Release the player [ ]

If a player is not traded, and clears waivers, he may be released from the team. The player is then a free agent and is able to sign with any of the 30 Major League teams, including the team that just released him. The team that releases him is responsible for the salary the player is owed, less what he is paid by the team that signs him.

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Lorenzo Cain was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers. Here's what that means.

what is designated for assignment in mlb

Lorenzo Cain was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday before  the team's game against the Cincinnati Reds on the day he reached 10 years of MLB service.

What does designated for assignment mean and why is that milestone significant for the veteran centerfielder? 

Here's what you should know.

What does designated for assignment mean?

According to Major League Baseball , a player is removed from the 40-man roster when the player's contract is designated for assignment.

The player can be traded or be completely waived within seven days of the DFA.

If the player is claimed by another team, he can be optioned to the minor leagues or assigned to their 26-man roster. A player could reject the minor-league assignment and enter free agency based on service time, for example.

What's next for Cain?

He could retire, which is something he already said was a strong possibility after the season, or another team could sign him after he clears waivers. Cain told reporters in Cincinnati he would take a couple days to decide what his plans will be. 

Why did the Brewers designate Cain for assignment?

Cain said "it was time" and that the decision was mutual as he acknowledged he wasn't producing to his standards. Teams designate players to open a spot on their 40-man roster and usually add a new player.

The Brewers did just that with the addition of outfielder Jonathan Davis from Class AAA Nashville.

Who is Jonathan Davis ?

Davis is 30 years old and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 in the 15th round. He has spent most of his career in the minors but made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Blue Jays.

He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees during the 2021 season.

This was his first season in the Brewers organization.

With the Nashville Sounds, he was batting .297, .408 OBP, .426 OPS, with 44 hits, three home runs, 18 RBI in 148 at-bats across 38 games.

He has played 134 total games in the majors with a .171 average,.272. OBP and .520 OPS.

Did MLB's 10-year pension rule have something to do with Cain being designated for assignment today?

Yes. The Brewers waited until Saturday to DFA Cain because he reached 10 years of service. 

When a player reaches that milestone, he becomes fully vested in the MLB Players Association pension. It guarantees a minimum of $68,000 a year for retired players and up to $220,000 if they wait until they’re 62.

How old is Cain?

Cain is 36 years old.

What was Cain's contract?

This was the final year of the contract Cain signed before the 2018 season. 

He signed a five-year deal worth $80 million, the largest the club had extended to a player . The Brewers signed Cain on the same day the team made the huge trade for Christian Yelich.

What were Cain's stats with the Brewers in 2022?

In 145 at-bats in 2022, Cain had a .179 average, .231 OBP and .465 OPS. He had 26 hits, one home run, nine RBI and two SB. 

What are Cain's career stats?

For his career, he has hit .283 with a .343 OBP and .750 OPS. He has 1,220 hits, 87 home runs, 454 RBI and 190 SB.

In 2018, the year in which he finished seventh in NL MVP voting, he batted .308, .395 and .812 and played in 141 games. He played in 148 games the following year, but in 2020, after five games he opted out the rest of the season during the pandemic-shortened year.

Cain returned in 2021 but injuries plagued him as he only played in 78 games and batted .257, .329 and .730.

Cain started his career with the Brewers

The Brewers drafted Cain in 2004 out of  Tallahassee Community College. He made his major-league debut in 2010 and was traded to the Kansas City Royals that December. He won a World Series with the Royals in 2015.

Cain won a Gold Glove with the Brewers

Cain for years was known as one of the best outfielders in the game and his home-run stealing grabs were must-see. He was finally rewarded with a Gold Glove in 2019.

Here is one of the most memorable catches (the 2019 season opener against the Cardinals to take away a home run in the ninth inning that ended the game).

Contact Christopher Kuhagen at 262-446-6634 or at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @ckuhagen  and our newsroom Instagram accounts at MyCommunityNow and Lake Country Now .

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In every sport, rules are governing them. Baseball, as a sport, has its own rules and regulations guiding the game. These rules were put in place for players and officials to know what is to be done and what not to do in the game. These rules apply to every part of the game, from the equipment used in playing the game to how scores are counted. These rules help give the game a unified front and allow for a better understanding of the game. Most of the rules were created a long time ago and were later fine-tuned to fit into the modern-day context of the game. Having rules is a beautiful thing, as it helps solves a lot of knotted situations without much stress.

Know more: What is a save in baseball

There are certain terms and terminologies pertaining to different sports, likewise baseball. one of those terms in baseball includes the DFA. The DFA has only one meaning in baseball, which is designated for assignment. Knowing how to keep a score or a scorebook is not the only practice you need to know in baseball. There are certain terminologies you have to master and command before it can be said that you have the full knowledge of baseball. There are so many terminologies used in baseball, with each having different meanings. Terminologies such as balk, battery, bunt, count, cleanup, diamond, error flyball, and groundball, and a full count are common to baseball, and each has its meaning. However, out of all these terminologies, most people don’t understand the DFA; although, unlike the rest, it is not a term used during play, which is why it is not very popular amongst baseball enthusiasts. However, the full meaning of DFA in baseball will be explained to you as you continue reading.

Know more: How many player on a baseball team

DFA in Baseball

DFA In baseball stands for designated for assignment; this term is used when a player’s contract is designated for assignment. Once this occurs, the player is removed from the roster at once. When you hear the term DFA, some other terminologies accompany it; all these will be explained for better understanding.

  • What is DFA in Baseball?: The term DFA as said earlier stands for designated for assignment; this term is used when the player’s contract to his club is designated for assignment. Once this occurs, the player is immediately removed from the forty-man roster of his club; within a week or ten days of this agreement, the player can be placed on irrevocable outright waivers or traded. To better understand this term, one needs to be familiar with the term waiver in baseball.
  • What is a waiver?: A waiver is a form of permission granted to other teams in baseball, which allows them to proceed with a player move that will not be allowed normally by the rules of the game.

Checkout: How to hold a baseball bat

  • Place player on waiver: After placing a player on DFA, the player can be claimed off waiver by another club. Once this club claims the player, he immediately joins their 40 man roster. At this point, the player can be sent to one of the clubs in the minor league. However, if the player can clear all waivers, he can be sent to the minor leagues or be released. If a player has played for about 3 to 5 years in the major league, the player must give his consent before being assigned to minor leagues. But in some cases, players withhold their consent. In this case, the club can either release the player or keep him on the roster of the major league. In both cases, the player will continue getting his pay under the terms of his agreement with the club.
  • Trade the player: once a player is placed on DFA, the player may be traded. Some major team has been known to put their players on designated for assignment to increase the interest on such players, especially among teams not at the top of the waiver list. According to the waiver rule, other teams would have preferences in claiming a player. Also, under the five and ten rule, if a player has ten years experience in the major league, he cannot be traded without his consent.
  • Release the player: If a player clears his waivers and is not traded, the players can be released from the team. Once the player is released, he becomes a free agent and can sign a new deal with any of the 30 major league teams with his present team inclusive.

Checkout the meaning of: Designated for Assignment in Basball

The designated for assignment is a terminology used for players that have been dropped from his team roster. Once a player is placed on DFA, the team releases the player or trades the player to another team in the major league. If it is a player with less than three years of experience in the major league, the player can be sent to one of the clubs in the minor league. However, in the case of a player with more than 5 or 10 years of experience in major league baseball, he cannot be traded or sent to the minor league without his consent. And if the player refuses to drop his consent, he is released and becomes a free agent and can end up still signing another contractual agreement with the team that just released him.

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MLB Trade Rumors

Padres Designate Pedro Avila For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | April 12, 2024 at 5:55pm CDT

The Padres announced that they have recalled left-hander Adrián Morejón from Triple-A El Paso, with right-hander Pedro Avila designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Avila, now 27, has bounced on and off the Padres’ roster over the years. Initially acquired from the Nationals in the 2016 trade that sent Derek Norris to Washington, Avila was added to the 40-man roster in November of 2018. At the end of 2019, he was non-tendered and re-signed to a minor league deal. He got his roster spot back in October of 2021 but was outrighted in June of 2022, before getting selected to the roster yet again a few months later in November.

Amid all of those transactions, Avila spent much of his time on optional assignment. He has pitched in parts of five major league seasons but only has 71 2/3 innings to his name at the big league level. 50 1/3 of those came last year, as he put up a 3.22 earned run average for the Friars. His 11.4% walk rate last year was on the high side but he managed to punch out 24.5% of batters faced while getting grounders on 58.8% of balls in play.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to carry those results over into 2024, at least in the early going. He’s thrown eight innings this year with eight earned runs having come around to score. He struck out nine batters but also walked eight.

Over his years as a Padre, Avila has burned through all of his options and can’t be removed from the active roster without also being removed from the 40-man. The Friars will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers. If he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would have the right to elect free agency by virtue of having a previous career outright.

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15 hours ago

Mop up guys are easy to find. I guess they wanted a LH one instead of a RH one.

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14 hours ago

Not a bad arm to have down at El Paso, if he doesn’t get claimed…

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a DFA is better than gettin hit with a BFT that will have everybody sayin: L A KNIGHT YEAH

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13 hours ago

Pedro has been demoted to AAA is much clearer. That’s like saying Pedro Avila has been promoted to customer, when really it means they’re demoting his ass.

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7 hours ago

might be time to learn the syntax of the mlb. the author was not incorrect.

5 hours ago

Baseballs my favorite sport but there’s a bunch of softies.

From throwing at a guy for pimping a home run to phrasing demotions in a cryptic way to soften the blow of an underperforming.

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11 hours ago

Time for Avila to have some Tequila

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38 mins ago

Love it. Keep cleaning up the 40 man, Preller. I like Wade for now, but he’s not the future. Once Manny gets back to the field, perhaps bring up Martorella. If not, Batten is solid and already on the 40. Maybe Preller goes dumpster diving for a solid DFA, but rather keep the 40 clean.

41 seconds ago

The more I look at it, they will likely save a spot for Marcano who should be back in a bit.

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What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about Madison Bumgarner

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated pitcher Madison Bumgarner for assignment on Thursday after his latest rough outing on Wednesday.

Bumgarner is 0-3 on the season with a 10.26 ERA in 16.2 innings over four starts. He has given up 25 hits and 19 earned runs, while walking 15 and striking out 10.

What's next for the pitcher and the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Here's a look at the designated for assignment process and what it means for Bumgarner and his MLB team.

What does designated for assignment (DFA) mean in baseball?

The MLB.com glossary explains the process as follows: "When a player's contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated "DFA" — that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction (had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers."

What happens if the player is claimed off waivers by another team?

The glossary explains the process as follows: "If the player is claimed off said waivers by another club, he is immediately added to that team's 40-man roster, at which point he can be optioned to the Minor Leagues (if he has Minor League options remaining) or assigned to his new team's 26-man roster. If the player clears waivers, he may be sent outright to the Minor Leagues or released. Players with more than three years of Major League service time or who have been previously outrighted may reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency. Clubs may utilize this option to clear a spot on the 40-man roster — typically with the intention of adding a newly acquired player (via trade or free agency), a Minor Leaguer or a player being activated from the 60-day injured list."

What are the specifics of Madison Bumgarner's DFA?

The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro explained the specifics regarding the situation for Bumgarner and the Diamondbacks in his story detailing the pitcher being designated for assignment on Thursday.

He wrote: "Bumgarner is likely to be placed on waivers soon, if he hasn't been already, and would become a free agent once he clears. He could then sign with another team for a prorated portion of the league minimum ($720,000). He is not likely to be claimed or traded given the amount of money still owed to him by the Diamondbacks."

How much do the Diamondbacks owe Madison Bumgarner?

Bumgarner signed a 5-year, $85 million contract with the Diamondbacks in December of 2019. He is still owed $34 million through next season. In cutting ties with Bumgarner, the Diamondbacks are setting a new club record for dead money, exceeding the $22 million they ate when releasing right-hander Russ Ortiz during the 2006 season.

More on Madison Bumgarner and the Diamondbacks

Madison Bumgarner designated for assignment by Diamondbacks

Why the Diamondbacks did not call up Brandon Pfaadt to replace Madison Bumgarner

With sense of urgency, Diamondbacks move on from struggling Madison Bumgarner

Arizona Diamondbacks fans sound off: Madison Bumgarner must be removed from rotation

Reach Jeremy Cluff at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter  @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does DFA mean in baseball? What's next for Madison Bumgarner

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Athletics' Zach Jackson: Designated for assignment

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Jackson was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Sunday.

It's been a precipitous drop for Jackson in a relatively short period of time, as he recorded 28 holds and four saves while posting a a 2.86 ERA over 73 games for Oakland over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The right-hander's fortunes began to turn for the worse this spring when he produced a 6.48 ERA in nine Cactus League outings, and they didn't get any better (18.00 ERA, 5.00 WHIP) over three appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas early this minor-league season. Jackson's spot on the 40-man roster was taken up by Alex Speas, who was acquired from the White Sox on Saturday for cash considerations.

Athletics' Zach Jackson: Clears waivers

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Braves finish off Diamondbacks, complete sweep in Atlanta

what is designated for assignment in mlb

ATLANTA — The Diamondbacks did not lose in excruciating fashion, but they lost a game nevertheless, and they departed Truist Park victims of their first sweep of the season.

Their 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon was not decided late in a literal sense. They trailed most of the game and it stayed that way until the final out. But this loss felt similar to the two that preceded it in that once again the Diamondbacks’ offense was nonexistent in the late innings.

Three Braves relievers combined to fire 3 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday. Over the course of the three games, their bullpen threw 14 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. The Diamondbacks still could have, and probably should have, won at least once, maybe twice, during the series. But they also could have made things a little easier on themselves had they done more against the opposing bullpen.

“It’s a challenge because they’re a good team and they’re very balanced in a lot of different areas,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We don’t have to look far to see what a good team looks like and plays like. I think we did that well for a lot of the innings, but not 27 of them. Those are the things we’ve got to do to win games.”

Braves sluggers Matt Olson, Michael Harris II and Austin Riley each went deep on Sunday, with Riley delivering a two-run shot in the eighth inning to pad what was a one-run lead.

Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson turned in a decent outing considering the opposition, giving up three runs in five innings. Most encouragingly was the fact that he seemed to find a trustworthy secondary pitch — a hard cutter — that he could pair with his fastball, and he finished the day with a career-high 16 whiffs while tying a personal best with seven strikeouts.

“Once we got the cutter working,” Nelson said, “I think that kind of opened up a lot and I got some more swing and miss and some weak contact.”

The Diamondbacks collected three hits in the fourth, one in the fifth and another in the ninth. All were singles. The offense went down in order in five of nine innings, including the first three against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, who gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The day also featured more defensive challenges for Blaze Alexander, though Lovullo said he still has confidence in his rookie shortstop. In the second, Alexander made a diving stop on a Marcell Ozuna ball but threw wide to first. It was ruled an infield single. Three innings later, Alexander misplayed a Ronald Acuna Jr. ground ball for an error.

“I think he’s a good player with good instincts,” Lovullo said, “and maybe just gets a little bit, I don’t want to say out of control, but a little bit ahead of himself instead of taking a deep breath and letting the play play out.”

Alexander has been thrust into action following injuries to both Geraldo Perdomo and top prospect Jordan Lawlar. Lovullo said newcomer Kevin Newman might get opportunities at the position but Alexander will continue to, as well, despite having four plays in three games that he couldn’t convert into outs.

“He’s going to continue learning and growing,” Lovullo said, “and that’s what we have to do is help him get there.”

INF Kevin Newman added, RHP Corbin Martin designated for assignment

ATLANTA — In need of infield depth following Geraldo Perdomo’s knee injury , the Diamondbacks selected the contract of shortstop Kevin Newman on Sunday. To make room on the 40-man roster, they designated right-hander Corbin Martin for assignment.

It caps an eventful couple of weeks for Newman. After signing a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks in the offseason, he opted out of that contract late in spring training when he was told he wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster.

At the time, the decision made sense given the Diamondbacks’ apparent depth on the infield.

But shortly after he opted out, prospect Jordan Lawlar tore a ligament in his right thumb that required surgery, and Newman decided to sign back with the team. It turned out to be a wise decision.

Martin had made two appearances for Triple-A Reno, giving up three runs in three innings, walking three and striking out three.

Should the club part ways with him — the team has seven days to either trade him, release him or place him on waivers — it will be left with none of the four players it received in trade from the Houston Astros for Zack Greinke in July 2019.

However, infielder Josh Rojas, who was part of the Greinke deal, was sent to the Mariners in exchange for closer Paul Sewald.

More DBacks: Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo needs knee surgery, likely out 4-6 weeks

Monday's DBacks-Rockies pitching matchup

DBacks at Rockies, 5:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34

Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-0, 0.82) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 27.00).

At Coors Field: Gallen has been sharp in each of his first two starts, most recently firing six scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. In that start, he gave up just three hits while walking three and striking out six. … He faced the Rockies on Opening Day, allowing one run in five innings and getting more than enough offense thanks to the Diamondbacks’ record-setting 14-run third inning. … Freeland started opposite Gallen that day, giving up 10 of the 14 runs in that third inning. … He was not sharp in his next outing, either, allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. … Freeland has rough numbers against several Diamondbacks regulars, including 2B Ketel Marte (.378 average, three homers), 1B Christian Walker (.944 OPS, two homers) and LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.444 average, one homer).

Tuesday: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 1.98) vs. Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (0-1, 9.00).

Wednesday: At Colorado, 12:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (0-1, 7.00) vs. Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-0, 6.23).

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-0, 5.06) vs. Cardinals LHP Steven Matz (1-0, 1.74).

What to know about the Colorado Rockies

After dropping three of four to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, the Rockies were swept by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, then split the first two games of their series at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. They won the first game against the Rays in dramatic fashion, getting a walk-off grand slam from 3B Ryan McMahon in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday. McMahon is off to the best start of any of their regulars, going 13 for 32 (.406) with two homers entering Sunday’s finale against the Rays. LF Nolan Jones, who finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting last year, is off to a sluggish start, going just 5 for 36 (.139) at the plate while struggling badly in left field. RF Charlie Blackmon has hit well, going 11 for 33 (.333) with three doubles and a triple. The Rockies’ pitching has been a mess, posting an 8.04 ERA through nine games. They have allowed 73 runs (67 earned) in 75 innings.

what is designated for assignment in mlb

Houston Astros Recall Kuhnel For More Bullpen Help

The Houston Astros continue their revolving door from Triple-A Sugar Land as they look for fresh arms for their over-taxed bullpen.

  • Author: Matthew Postins

In this story:

The Houston Astros have recalled right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel from Triple-A Sugar Land for Friday’s game with the Texas Rangers, according to multiple reports.

The make room the Astros sent pitcher Parker Mushinski back to Triple-A, per the MLB Transactions log . The Astros also designated pitcher Wander Suero for assignment.

The Astros are in a personnel crunch in the bullpen after a series sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals.

On Wednesday, Spencer Arrighetti made his Major League debut and was only able to get through three innings before the Astros had to go to the bullpen.

Then, on Thursday, Hunter Brown became the first pitcher in Major League history to give up 11 hits and be unable to get out of the first inning, which severely overtaxed the Astros’ bullpen.

Kuhnel hasn’t yet pitched in the Majors this year, but he’s been in the bigs since 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds. In 76 relief appearances he is 4-3 with a 6.02 ERA.

The Reds traded Kuhnel to Houston last June and he went back and forth between Sugar Land and Houston. In seven appearances with the Astros he had a 4.66 ERA.

Mushinski went back up to Houston on Tuesday, just four days after he was optioned back to Sugar Land, when the Astros placed starter Framber Valdez on the injured list.

He threw 2.2 innings against Kansas City on Wednesday, giving up three hits and three earned runs while walking two. In three games with the Astros this season he has an 11.25 ERA, and in 24 career appearances with Houston he has a 5.88 ERA.

In addition to Valdez, the Astors have four other starters on the injured list — Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr.

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Jackson Holliday, baseball’s top-rated prospect, makes MLB debut for Orioles at Fenway Park

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday grounds into a force out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday grounds into a force out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday strikes out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday takes a swing during batting practice prior to his first major league baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, is schedule to play second base in Wednesday game. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday, second from left, smiles while watching batting practice with teammates prior to his first major league baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, is schedule to play second base in Wednesday game. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday, second from right, smiles while surrounded by cameras and teammates during batting practice prior to his first major league baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Boston. Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, is schedule to play second base in Wednesday game. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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BOSTON (AP) — After his rapid rise to the majors, Jackson Holliday was given a particularly meaningful number with the Baltimore Orioles.

Baseball’s top-ranked prospect made his big league debut Wednesday night at Fenway Park, starting at second base and batting ninth against the Boston Red Sox. He went down swinging his first time up and finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and an RBI groundout in Baltimore’s 7-5 win.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have gotten a few hits, but the overall experience was pretty incredible,” Holliday said. “To go out there and win and have an RBI, it’s pretty awesome just to be here.”

The 20-year-old infielder, selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 amateur draft out of high school in Oklahoma, is a son of Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and the 2007 NL batting champion.

“Nervous? I mean, a little bit. Not too bad,” Jackson Holliday said before the game. “I’m not as nervous as I thought I would be. I’m more excited. Kind of changed the mind frame from nervous to excitement.

“I got a taste a little bit during spring training. Obviously, this will be different now during the season, but I felt like I was able to hold my own.”

Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames is congratulated in the dugout after his three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 12, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Holliday wore No. 7 for Baltimore. His father had that number during seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and one with the Colorado Rockies. But it hadn’t been worn by a member of the Orioles since former manager Cal Ripken Sr. was still coaching in 1992.

One of his sons, Billy Ripken, was the previous Baltimore player to wear that number, in 1988. The Ripken family, Orioles royalty, gave its blessing to the young Holliday.

“Our family is thrilled that @J_Holliday7 will be wearing dad’s #7,” Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. posted on the social platform X. “Excited to watch him play!”

Holliday, who turned 20 on Dec. 4, became the second-youngest player in the majors behind Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio, who turned 20 on March 11.

“I’m sure to be 20 years old and go through the kind of pressure, the buildup and all the stuff he had to go through today, I bet he’s probably glad it’s over and relieved and looking forward to playing tomorrow,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said.

A left-handed hitter, Holliday was drafted as a shortstop less than two years ago out of Stillwater High School and advanced through four minor league levels in 2023. He had a tremendous spring training with Baltimore this year, batting .311 with a .354 on-base percentage and .600 slugging percentage in 15 games.

But general manager Mike Elias wanted Holliday to get more playing time at second base and more experience against left-handed pitching. Just before the end of camp, Holliday was sent down. In 10 Triple-A games this season, he hit .333 with a .482 on-base percentage and .595 slugging percentage.

That time in Triple-A paid off, Holliday said.

“Yeah, I think getting at-bats. I got a lot of at-bats because we scored a lot of runs,” he said. “I was able to get pretty comfortable. My swing’s in a good spot, put together a lot of good at-bats versus lefties, which we knew was kind of more of the purpose of being down there. And, it doesn’t hurt to play.”

Primarily a shortstop, Holliday made 33 minor league starts at second base, including eight this season. Gunnar Henderson, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, plays shortstop for the Orioles, so Holliday will get most of his time at second.

“There’s a lot to process and there’s a lot of hype,” Hyde said before the game. “Hopefully, he can just relax, think confidently and have fun out there.”

Holliday started a 4-6-3 double play to end the second inning.

“We’re all smiles today,” said teammate Jordan Westburg, who hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Orioles overcame a 5-0 deficit. “We’re just trying to keep him level, but he’s so mature he handled it really well.”

Baltimore selected Holliday’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room on the roster, utilityman Tony Kemp was designated for assignment.

Told of his promotion after his Triple-A game Tuesday night, Holliday phoned home with the news.

“It was a really cool moment to be able to call my dad and tell him to find his way to Boston,” he said.

Matt Holliday batted .299 with 316 home runs and 1,220 RBIs during 15 major league seasons with the Rockies, Athletics, Cardinals and Yankees from 2004-18.

Along with his father, and grandfather Tom Holliday, a longtime college coach, Jackson Holliday was expecting his wife, Chloe, his mother, brothers and sister at Fenway Park for his debut.

“It’s different. It’s a lot. I feel like I’ve been born to handle that, and to be here and play baseball for a long time,” Jackson Holliday said before the game.

The youngster hadn’t had time to go through all the texts he’d received wishing him good luck. But there was one from a Maryland native that stood out.

“My dad showed me a text message from (Olympic swimmer) Michael Phelps,” Jackson Holliday said. “So, that was kind of cool.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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    What does designated for assignment mean in baseball? Teams are only allowed to have 40 players on their roster at all times, with 26 of them active in the majors. Sometimes, teams make decisions ...

  2. Designate for Assignment (DFA)

    DFA is a transaction that removes a player from his club's 40-man roster and forces him to be traded or released. The player has seven days to choose his fate, and he can be optioned to the Minor Leagues or assigned to a new team's 26-man roster.

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    Designated for assignment ( DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). [2] A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, [a] return the player to the 40-man roster, place the player on waivers, trade the player, release the ...

  4. How Does Designate For Assignment Work? [reasons, Process, & Outcomes

    Designate for Assignment in baseball is usually made by the team's front office. It includes the coaching staff and general manager. They evaluate the player's performance and the team's need to make the call. Once they make the decision, they will let the player and the MLB authority know about it.

  5. What is 'DFA' in baseball? What to know about abbreviation's meaning

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    This is how the MLB.com glossary explains the process: "When a player's contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated "DFA" — that player is immediately removed from his club's 40 ...

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    Baseball Club Options with Players Designated for Assignment. Once a player is DFA'd, the clock starts for the club to pick an option for that player's immediate future. Those options are: Assign the player to one of a minor league team affiliated with the club. (This is not available for all players; see Common Questions at bottom).

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    When a player is designated for assignment, though, that is not an option - even if the team's plan is for an outright assignment to the minors. During that week, the player is not part of the ...

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    DFA is short for Designated for Assignment and is a contractual term used in the baseball realm. Essentially, it refers to when a player is eliminated from a team's 40-man roster and placed on waivers for other teams to claim. You may have heard about this if you follow the Major League games and subscribe to baseball news.

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    An option (optional assignment) allows a club to move a player on its 40-man roster to and from the minor leagues without exposing him to other teams. Once a player is added to a team's 40-man ...

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    Designated for assignment (DFA) is a process used in Major League Baseball when a team wants to remove a player from its 40-man roster. Here are some key points about DFA in baseball: When a player is DFA'd, he is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster and placed on waivers. Other teams then have 7 days to claim the player's ...

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    The designated for assignment process in relation to the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement. The DFA process is governed by the Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which outlines the rights and responsibilities of players and teams in relation to roster moves.

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    Conclusion. Designated for Assignment (DFA) is a term used in Major League Baseball that refers to the process of a team removing a player from their 40-man roster. Teams use the DFA process for various reasons, such as to make room for new players, to demote a player to the minor leagues, or to cut ties with a player who is not performing.

  16. Designated for assignment

    Designated for assignment. Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed.

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    Designated for Assignment. The TBC Data Store allows you to purchase some standard datasets available on the site or even request a custom extract of your own design! Players who are currently removed from the 40-man roster and waiting for assignment, trade or release. The Transactions Research provides you with ability to search through pro ...

  20. What does designated for assignment DFA mean in baseball?

    The designated for assignment is a terminology used for players that have been dropped from his team roster. Once a player is placed on DFA, the team releases the player or trades the player to another team in the major league. If it is a player with less than three years of experience in the major league, the player can be sent to one of the ...

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    BOSTON (AP) — After his rapid rise to the majors, Jackson Holliday was given a particularly meaningful number with the Baltimore Orioles.. Baseball's top-ranked prospect made his big league debut Wednesday night at Fenway Park, starting at second base and batting ninth against the Boston Red Sox. He went down swinging his first time up and finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and an RBI ...