what does assignment mean in mlb

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What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about Nick Ahmed

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated Nick Ahmed for assignment after Wednesday’s 12-5 win over the Colorado Rockies .

Ahmed, the longest-tenured player in franchise history — his debut with the Diamondbacks was on June 29, 2014 — was a two-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop. This season, he was hitting just .212 and had committed 8 errors in only 65 games.

What's next for Ahmed and the Diamondbacks?

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

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

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-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 a player is claimed off waivers by another MLB team?

Again, we refer to the glossary: "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 to know about Nick Ahmed's DFA?

The Diamondbacks' decision to designate Ahmed for assignment is fairly routine when a team is looking to remove an underachieving veteran player from the 40-man roster. These types of players are not part of the franchise's future plans, so they would not be candidates to option to the minor leagues. Also, since the trading deadline passed in August, using waivers is the only option available for a player to move to another team.

As Arizona Republic Diamondbacks insider Nick Piecoro reported, Ahmed was not the same player, offensively or defensively , since diving for a ball during an exhibition in July 2020 while preparing for the start of the pandemic-shortened season. Since the team was likely to give top prospect Jordan Lawlar a shot at the starting shortstop job next year, cutting ties with Ahmed was not that much of a surprise.

How much do the Diamondbacks owe Nick Ahmed?

Ahmed was playing on the final season of a four-year, $32.5 million contract. He was making $10.375 million this season, so the club still owes him about $1.4 million, per mlbtraderumors.com .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does DFA mean in baseball? What's next for Nick Ahmed, DBacks?

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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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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.

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.

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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

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.

"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.

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

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 .

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

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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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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.

1 New Orleans Zephyrs

What Does Designate for Assignment (DFA) mean in Baseball?

Two days ago I was watching a TV show with my son. Actually, I was watching the show, and my son was busy with his iPhone. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he asked me, “Dad, What does DFA mean in Baseball?

My son is a teenager. So, it was not a “My father knows everything” type question. I am a baseball coach, and my Son is a die-hard supporter of the ‘Texas Rangers.’ Most probably, he was reading anything on Chris Gimenez.

Then I realized I hear this question quite often. That prompted me to write an article on this topic. As I operate a blog on baseball, why not answer the question on the blog? That will help many to know this large but important term of baseball.

Table of Contents

What does Designate for Assignment (DFA) mean in Major League Baseball?

First thing first, what is the full form of DFA? DFA means Designated for Assignment . When a player falls into this term, the team will immediately remove him from the 40-man roster. However, the team can replace that player with another one to fulfill its 40-player roster.

One crucial thing I should mention, DFA does not mean out-and-out release. Out and out release means permanently releasing a player, but if a player is DFAed, he has the chance to come back into the team.

Suppose you are completely new in this sector and trying to understand the entire scenario. Don’t be ashamed. I know how it feels when you don’t understand a term and google it because you are ashamed to ask someone about that. So, let’s start with the basics:

What is the 40-man roster?

40-man Roster – If you don’t know what does 40 man roster means, then let me clear it for you. In the major league service time, every team can sign 40 players. Among these 40 MLB players, 26 players are active. What happens to the rest 14 players? They play in the minor leagues or stay on the injured list.

What are Waivers?

In the previous section, you learned about the 40-man roster. So, now you can understand a team does not require all 40 players for the entire major league service time. Here come waivers handy.

Waivers give a player to play for any team. If a player gets a waiver, he is unconditionally free, and any team can take him in their team.

So, now you understand both the term ’40-man roster’ and ‘waiver.’ Now, it will be easy for me to clear the concept of DFA.

As I stated earlier, when a player is regarded as Designated for Assignment or DFA, he is immediately removed from the 40 man roaster. But that doesn’t make him a free agent. This means a DFAed player is not entirely released from the team.

Albert Pujols DFA shocked the baseball world

The team gets seven days to decide on the fate of the DFAed player. The team can trade the player, can place him on irrevocable outright waivers, or make him a free agent.

In case of a waiver, if the DFAed player clears waivers, he might be sent to the minors. There are two options in the case of waivers.

The player must provide his consent before sending to the minors if he has been playing MLB for five or more years. If he does not fall into that category, he will be immediately sent to the minors.

Why a player gets DFA while active in the Major League Service?

So, now you know what does DFA means in baseball. But what makes a player fall into DFA in the middle of a season? There could be many, but here I will tell you the top four reasons a player gets DFA.

If the team wants to move in a minor league player into the team.
If a player from the injured list recovers.
If the team wants to trade a new player or free agent.
If a team wants to clear a spot in the 40-man roster by a player recently added to the team via trade or free agency

Options for a Major League Baseball Team with a DFAed Player

Now, the most important question. What happens to the player who receives DFA? I have stated earlier a player is not immediately released if he has been DFA.

The team gets seven days to make a decision about the player before he is sent to the minor leagues.

Here are the things a team can do with the DFAed player within the seven days limit:

Take back the player to its 40-player roster
Most common practice – place the player on a waiver.
Trade the player
Make the player a free agent
Send the player to the minor league (There is a player consent condition which I have stated earlier)

Let’s discuss some of the points in brief so that I don’t have to tell the same thing over and over to all.

Place the player on waivers

Placing in the waiver is the most common phenomenon for a DFA player. Though a team gets seven days limit to take any decision about the player, if the team wants to claim the waiver, they have to claim that within three days.

When a team waves a player, any team can claim him. But what happens when more than one team claims that player? In that case, the team (If the team is in the same league) with the lowest record will claim the player.

If the occurrence happens during the first month of the season, then the previous year’s standing is considered.

If no team from the same league claims the player and lower league teams claim, then the team with the highest record will claim the player.

Trade the player

Trading the player with another team is another option for a team when a player is designated for DFA.

Sometimes teams imply DFA upon a player to lure a team that is not in a good position in the point table and pursues that team to buy that player.

For example, Rangers implied DFA on Brian Shouse in May 2006 and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers 4 days later. The rangers didn’t put him in the waiver (remember, three days rule for the waiver?)

Because then 13 more other teams would have claimed for Brian Shouse. And there is another interesting rule called five to ten rules. According to the five to ten rule, if a player has been playing MLB for more than ten years and the last five years for the current team, he can not be traded without consent.

Release the player

When a DFA player is not traded nor waived, the team has to release him. The player becomes a free agent, and he is free to sign any team in the major league. On an interesting note, he can even sign the team just released him!

The team that releases him is responsible for the player’s salary, less what he is paid by the team that signs him.

Option a Baseball Player – What does it mean?

The term “Option” is related to the minor leagues. Let me give you the exact quotation from the baseball glossary

“An option allows that player to be sent to the Minor Leagues (“optioned”) without first being subjected to waivers.”

If a player is sent to the minor leagues he must clear waiver so that no team can put a waiver claim on that player.

Here a player is removed from the 26-man roster on which the main team is formed but keeps him in the ultimate 40-man roster.

If you are a baseball fan, then “sent down to the minors” or “optioned to the minor leagues” should be a familiar term to you. It means the club moves the player to the minors according to the eligibility.

If a player has 5 or more than 5 years of major league service time, he can be optioned and called back any time. But that is not the case; if the player has less than three years of service.

If a player with less than three years of service is optioned and sent to the minor leagues, the team can not call him immediately. The team has to wait at least ten days for that player if they want him to play again in the major league.

This rule is created to prevent constant back and forth major and minor league shuffling of players.

What Happens When Major League Player is Released?

I talked about this matter in a short scope earlier in this article. But sometimes, I asked this question, the difference between DFA and Release .

Release completely differs from the term DFA. Release means a player is out of the team, and there is no string attached between the player and the team.

A Release doesn’t happen in the middle of the season. It often happens in the offseason. It’s because there is a contract issue and that it is better to perform in the offseason. And by the spring training, most teams organize their team and decide which players will be in the roster spot.

When a team takes a 40-man roster decision, they have to make many decisions. The team management takes the decision on the 40-man roster and decides on the 26-man roster.

Covid pendemic and DFA rule created a limbo for some players

Major DFA incidents in the History of the Major League

Albert pujols.

The most recent incident of DFA is Albert Pujols which was also very shocking also. When Los Angels declared Alber Pujols designated for assignment in the last season of a 10-year contract .

Albert Pujols was one of the most prolific hitters in the history of the MLB. His highest batting average was .245 in 2016. But since then his form was declining. When he was DFAed, then his average was just .198.

Though he was one of the greatest players on the team, the team management had to take the tough decision. Angels team president John Carpino said,

“It never ends the way you want it to. This is baseball, and this is how it happens sometimes.”

Albert Pujols has won two world series championships and three league MVP awards. He was only the ninth player in the history of MLB to hit 600 career home runs. He was 41 years old when Los Angles took the decision to DFA him.

Chris Gimenez

Once Texas Rangers catcher Chris Gimenez was DFAed four times in his career. Teams he played for were Seattle mariners, Cleaveland Indians, Oakland Athletic.

He was finally DFAed frim Texas Rangers in 2014, and finally, Minnesota twins DFA him. He played in the minors and became a free agent a number of times. I was personally a fan of Chriz Gimenez, and the number of times teams implied DFA on him was really surprising to me.

Chris Young

Chirs Young was another player who was DFAed with a great record. In his career, he played for Red Sox, Los Angels, and Yankees.

Chris Young had a record of 25 base steals and 30 home runs in 2007. He was released after being DFAed from New Tork mates in 2014. The second DFA incident happened in 2017 after he joined Red Sox in 2015. He was declared a free agent in 2017.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called designated for assignment.

DFA or Designated for Assignment is a different term used in baseball because here the team has various options. The team can place that player to waiver. In addition, the team can trade or send him to the minor leagues.

When a player is declared as designated for assignment, the team gets seven days window to make a decision. If they decide to waiver, they get three days to declare that. Otherwise, they can trade, release or send him to the minors. Moreover, if the team thinks they need that player again, they also can call him back to the team.

What does DFAed mean?

If a team declares DFA upon a player, we call that player DFAed. It’s just another expression of telling a team has imposed DFA on a player.

Is there any DFA in Minor Leagues?

No, DFA is a term used in the Major league. If a player DFAed he can be transferred to the minor leagues but there is no DFA in the minor leagues.

Conclusion

There are many abbreviations in baseball that baseball followers should know. ERA, Cycles, FPS , WHIP are some of them. DFA is less common among other abbreviations, but it is a vital abbreviation that every baseball fan should know.

Also, if you are a baseball fan, you should understand what happens to a DFA player. You should know options for both the player and the team. When Albert Pujols was DFAed, many baseball fans were confused about “what will happen now!” as they didn’t know the term.

As a coach, it’s my duty to make people understand the rules and terminology of baseball. These are the basics. When you follow a game, you should know the game from the inside.

So, what does DFA mean in baseball? I hope you won’t ask me this question next time you see me. Have a nice day, and I hope your favorite player never faces DFA in 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.

MLB options explained: How do options work in MLB?

For the most casual of baseball fans, MLB roster rules aren’t usually at the front of mind. After all, the Mike Trout’s, Anthony Rizzo’s and Aaron Judge’s of the world aren’t being designated anywhere than the injured list if they suffer an ailment. However, how MLB teams use options to maneuver their roster throughout the season can be extremely important to success.

MLB options explained

Options are generally used on position players at the periphery of the roster, or on bullpen pitchers, but savvy teams know exactly where they stand with regards to the flexibility they have each season.

How many options does an MLB player have?

Before each season, each MLB team selects 40 players to be on their roster. Even though only 26 are eligible to be active in each game, the 40 man roster is the larger pool of players a team can choose from to decide who is on the active roster. On a general level, MLB players on the 40 man roster have three options to be sent to their respective organization’s minor league affiliate.

However, as with most things in sports and in life, that baseline statement doesn’t cover all scenarios. There are different rules for veteran players who have spent at least five years in professional baseball. They do not have a pre-disposed number of options per season like some of their less experienced teammates. Such players would have the right to refuse an option due to the level of service time they have accrued.

What does it mean when a player gets optioned?

When a player gets optioned, it means that they have been taken off of a team’s active major league roster, and been sent down to the minor leagues. This transaction does not take them off of the 40 man roster however, so they can re-join the major league club at a future date. With that said, an optioned player has to stay in the minor leagues for a minimum of 10 days if they’re a position player. That requirement increases to 15 days for pitchers who are optioned to the minors.

Options can be a great tool for younger players on the fringes of the major leagues. Because they can essentially bounce to and from the big club a maximum of three times, it gives them multiple opportunities to show that they can play at the game’s highest level.

Once a player’s options have been exhausted however, it’s possible that the organization could lose their rights. If they were to send the player down a fourth time, they would be subject to waivers, and another team could make a claim on the player.

What is a Rule 5 player?

It’s well known that MLB clubs can improve rosters via free agency, trades or the draft. However, there is another lesser known avenue that franchises can pursue to add talent called the Rule 5 draft.

Held each December, the Rule 5 draft essentially allows teams to pluck players from other rosters who are not on their protected 40 man roster. This opportunity is only allowed for teams who do not have full 40 man rosters, as it is not a requirement come December when the Rule 5 draft takes place.

For example, let’s say that the Cincinnati Reds do not have 40 players designated on their roster come December. They’ll have an opportunity to obtain a player from another team via the draft who is not currently on their 40 man roster.

“Joe Pitcher” is in the Seattle Mariners organization, not on the 40 man roster, and the Reds would like to acquire him. Cincinnati can draft him, but must also pay Seattle $100,000 for obtaining the player. The catch for the Reds is that the player has to automatically be named to their 26 man active roster. As such, Rule 5 players who are drafted really have to be held in high regard because they’re instantly on the major league roster.

From the injured list to compensation picks and more, read more about the details of MLB in our MLB explained section.

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Andrew pistone, ranking the 10 best left fielders in mlb ahead of the 2024 season, ranking the 10 best right fielders in mlb ahead of he 2024 season, five best opening day pitching matchups in 2024, ranking the 10 best center fielders in mlb ahead of the 2024 season, ranking the 10 best designated hitters in mlb ahead of the 2024 season, ranking the 10 best third basemen in mlb ahead of the 2024 season, 1 thought on “mlb options explained: how do options work in mlb”.

One option covers the entire season. A player isn’t limited to being sent down three times total, but to going to the minors during three separate seasons. In fact, a new rule this year limits a player to being “optioned” (sent down) five times each season.

Orioles Designate Tyler Nevin, Ryan McKenna For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | March 28, 2024 at 11:42am CDT

The Orioles set their Opening Day roster today and made a few roster moves, including designating outfielder Ryan McKenna and infielder Tyler Nevin for assignment. The 40-man roster count drops to 38.

Nevin, 27 in May, came to the O’s from the Tigers via a cash deal in January. He has been a solid multi-positional player in the minors but has struggled to hit against major league pitching. He has hit .315/.394/.522 at Triple-A over the past two years for a wRC+ of 134. But in 313 major league plate appearances in his career thus far, he has a lesser line of .203/.310/.301.

He came into spring and performed well, hitting .333 /.367/.474, but got squeezed out of a bench job when the O’s recently signed Tony Kemp . Since he’s out of options and there was no room for him on the active roster, he had to be removed from the 40-man entirely.

The O’s will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers, but it seems fair to expect some interest from other clubs. Despite being out of options, he has a strong minor league track record and was just hitting well in the spring. He’s capable of playing any of the four corner spots, which could help him find a landing spot somewhere. He also comes with five years of control remaining since he has just over a year of service time.

McKenna, 27, has been serving as a part-time outfielder for the Orioles over the past three years. He’s played in 284 games from 2021 to the present, having hit .221/.299/.318 in his 504 plate appearances, striking out in 33.3% of them. He’s considered a strong defender and has stolen eight bases in nine tries.

He’s also out of options and got squeezed off the roster, meaning the O’s will have a week to find a trading partner or pass him through waivers. He reached arbitration for the first time this winter as a Super Two player and agreed to a salary of $800K, slightly above the $740K league minimum.

46 Comments

Today’s the day Nevin!

I’d rather Nevin or McKenna over Kemp. What a weird signing.

McKenna is an outfielder, where the Orioles have no fit for him. Cowser took his spot. Kemp has speed and can be used as a pinch runner. He also played in very pitcher friendly Oakland, and his away stats were better than his overall line because of that.

McKenna could’ve been a pinch runner and defensive replacement. There wasn’t a need for a left handed 2B, and if there was then they have Holliday.

@Fred I’ll add that Kemp has much better plate discipline and high leverage stats than McKenna. He’s not an offensive force by any means…but there are much worse late game defensive replacement/pinch hitter types (frankly speaking, guys like McKenna).

Kemp has speed? Let’s stop with that. He ranks in the 23rd percentile. Over three-quarters of the league is faster.

Kemp is there to man a bench position, be a good teammate, and they’ll see if they can squeeze Holliday on the roster and let Kemp mentor him a little bit. That is if they can fit both on the roster at the same time, which I kinda think is unlikely.

Sorry – that’s just not correct. Nevin is the emotional choice – hoping he finally lives up to potential but there’s just no long term fit for him. Kemp gives you speed and left handed second baseman for the start of the year.

Doesn’t really matter though because both would be gone as soon as Jackson comes up.

Missing the point – Kemp is just keeping the seat warm

$1M seat warmer

Kemp but no room for Holliday

Glad to see this. So now the question is who fills those two 40 man spots?

At the moment no one. They have flexibility to add 2 players from waivers if they choose. But they aren’t required to fill the spots right away.

I understand they don’t HAVE to. It’s a could vs should type of thing.

Might be strategically trying to sneak at least one of these guys through with the flurry of this type of move atm

McKenna is a terrific defensive outfielder, and can play anywhere in the outfield at a high level. I can’t understand why the people on the Baltimore boards hate him so much, but I guarantee you he’s going to be a successful player for somebody.

You must have missed the opening day game in 2023.

The Orioles have many other options who could provide more overall roster value than he would otherwise, both short and long term.

Would you rather have Tony Kemp, Tyler Nevin, or McKenna? That’s the question, and yes, last year‘s opening day was a mess, so what ? if that’s the only thing you can point to then you have a weak argument. Yes, he was unnecessary for the Orioles, that’s not the issue. McKenna is very solid defender, and he will be playing somewhere else very quickly

None of them. They may find homes elsewhere but for the Orioles roster, business reasons aside, I’d prefer 3 of Holliday, Mayo, Norby, Kjerstad or Stowers.

I would too, but for some reason, Mike thinks otherwise

Considering their RH DH today is Westburg, I think Nevin would’ve been a good fit to start the season at least.

Kemp is a short timer anyway, it’s not a big deal. McKenna didn’t have a spot and doesn’t play infield positions.

Nevin wouldn’t start over Westburg.

@fomeols In fairness, McKenna has gotten 500+ plate appearances over the past 3 years. It’s more one of those “is who he is” sort of situations. I think his defensive value is a tad overrated by some fans too. He’s good, but nowhere near good enough to make up for such a subpar bat that strikes out way too often for a low-power guy.

The O’s weren’t exactly going to give him more than the already generous number of plate appearances they have given him hoping he’ll miraculously unlock some higher gear. “Ship has sailed” so to speak…time for him to move to a club with lower expectations who can give him more run.

Oh, yes, I agree with you, my point is that he’s not as bad as everybody made him out to be, And there is still a market for his services, and he will be playing somewhere else very quickly. He will be claimed .

He’s a little above average as a defender. His dropped fly ball was game two last year. There are fans who will never let go of that one. For all his supposed speed he has eight career stolen bases . . . . Eight!

I’m not so sure he is claimed. I think the Orioles would like to be able to send him to Norfolk.

I don’t see McKenna being claimed. He isn’t a bad 4th OF for a rebuilding team but the O’s need to shed some of the playable but not high ceiling players and let the kids play. I had wished that they would have packaged several players for another starter or high leverage bullpen arm (like getting Tanner Scott back) but I’m sure Elias’ plans and who was willing to deal is better than any armchair GMing that I’d do.

If McKenna is the next coming of Mike Yastrzemski, that’s a chance we have to take.

I think he is terrific He has like a Gold Glove, maybe his arm isn’t cannon like, but he is a really good outfielder and maybe if he gets more playing time, his bat would become more consistent

20 hours ago

It does look like McKenna’s glove is made of metal a lot of times.

McKenna has so many brain farts, it’s just wrong to call him “terrific” on defense.

Waiting until the last minute to try and sneak them through waivers to stash in the minors.

OF Depth chart: 3 starters: Mullins, Santander, Hays. Cowser is the 4th. Stowers should be the 5th and is more than MLB ready. Supposedly Mateo (all?) and now Kemp (LF) are more versatile backups. Norby can also play LF. I still think they should look at trading Hays for pitching especially if he gets off to a hot start and Cowser and/or Stowers are forcing their hands. Don’t forget about Kjerstad. DH is basically the 4 OF or spelling Rutschman.

IF: 1B: Mountcastle/O’Hearn platoon. 2B: Urias for now? Although it should be Holliday today and will be as soon as service time is successfully manipulated. SS: Henderson 3B: Westburg Henderson can also play 3B. Holliday can play SS. Urias can back up all but 1B. Mateo can back up 2B and SS. Mayo is a 3B/1B. Norby is 3B/2B/LF. And now they have Kemp for some reason.

Numbers game, way too many bodies for positions for McKenna and Nevin. Kemp and Mateo are also redundant and taking up spots that should go to guys who can hit.

Its not a bad problem to have. Better than desperately throwing AAAA players out there hoping they stick.

Norby has never played 3B in his professional career. Westburg also can play anywhere except 1B.

Thornton is challenged by facts. And he seems not to care about posting easily proven false claims.

They just value the versatility/hit tools of Kemp and Mateo over McKenna. It’s ok guys. Cowser doesn’t help him either obviously.

Holliday wasn’t ready people. Get over it. Did no one notice his strikeouts to walks imploded in spring training. Yes he hit the ball… but was it vs mlb pitching,aaaa players or prospects? I trust that the staff tracked all that data. If he struck out that much in spring training teams would. Exploit that in the season. He’s much better off getting a year…yes a full year in aaa.

At the latest he’ll be in Baltimore June 1st!

Nah. I bet it’s post-ASB.

If he were black, he wouldn’t be rated this high of a prospect!

The Top Two prospects of the 2022 draft were Druw Jones and Jackson Holliday. Many O’s fans were leaning Jones with that pick, including myself. Jones has battled injuries, almost from Day One. I’m certainly glad Mike Elias chose Jackson Holliday.

You’re such an obvious MAGAt troll.

If you have that line of thought then hardly any of the Orioles have a good K/BB ratio. Here are some of the other guys who could play 2B/SS 2023: Urias: 101K/27BB Mateo: 82K/22BB – also a whopping .267 OBP which was .228 after May 1st Westburg: 56K/16BB Henderson: 159:K/56BB (I’d call this acceptable, his OBP was 70 points above his average and unlike Urias and Mateo has power)

Kemp versus Mateo, Urias, and if you want to compare to Holliday – he’s the only one who can take a walk. But he hits .238 without a lot of power, certainly below Holliday’s floor.

So your rationale doesn’t work. I’m going to stick with service time manipulation and look forward to seeing Holliday play Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore.

You’ll be waiting then. The dude has 18 games at AAA and struck out at a 40% clip in ST, plus is learning 2B. It is NOT SERVICE TIME MANIPULATION. He’s just NOT READY. F***. This isn’t hard. There is no rush to put a kid in the lineup when there’s perfectly capable major leaguers in front of him.

Holliday needs to learn how to backhand grounders instead of circling them. He also needs to learn how to plant his right foot to get off a strong throw. And he needs to learn to hit better vs. lefties. This is what the minor leagues are for: developing talent. Yes, he has a bright future but presently there are things he needs to improve upon to maximize the potential.

These last few Oriole moves seem a little desperate or worrisome. I liked both Nevin and McKenna over Kemp. I guess we’ll see. All three would have been looking in their rear-view mirrors.

HAHAHAHA!!! There’s nothing desperate or worrisome about DFAing a couple of fringe dudes. C’mon!

Does anyone know how much of his Arbitration pay McKenna gets? He wasn’t designated till opening day, so officially he was still on the roster, so he gets all of it, right?

Latest News

What does designated for assignment mean in mlb what to know about madison bumgarner.

What’s next for Madison Bumgarner and the Diamondbacks? Here’s a look at the MLB designated for assignment process.

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.

Story continues

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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Rochester Red Wings: Everything to know about 2024 season

M att LeCroy fully understands that his primary goal as manager of the Rochester Red Wings is to develop the players on his roster so that some day - whether it’s this month, next month, this season, or perhaps next season - they will be ready to go help the parent Washington Nationals chase down glory.

But LeCroy, who played parts of eight seasons in the big leagues at the start of the century and was a participant in three postseasons with the Minnesota Twins, wants to win.

Sure, developing the kids is the job, but like anyone else, winning is pretty sweet and after three middling years in Rochester, not only does he feel it’s time the Red Wings were playing meaningful games in September, he believes he might have the team capable of making the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and just the third time since the Wings won their last Governors’ Cup in 1997 .

“I’m excited for our staff, I’m excited for our organization, but I’m excited for Rochester because I think this is a team that, if we can all stay together, it should do some really good things,” LeCroy said Thursday prior to the Wings conducting their first workout at Innovative Field before busing to Syracuse for Friday afternoon’s season opener.

Darren Baker , who was voted by the fans as the most popular player in 2023, is back with the club and he has certainly noticed how good this iteration of the Wings might be.

“You look at the roster, we got a bunch of talent,” Baker said. “We want to get used to winning together and it’s always more fun. I liked the team that we had last year, too. I just think we’re in a different spot with the guys that we have, where a lot of us are still trying to get (to the majors) whereas last year we had a lot of guys who were trying to get back so maybe it’s just a different vibe. I like where we’re at.”

When does the Red Wings’ season start?

The team will play a three-game series in Syracuse that starts Friday at 2:05 p.m. against the New York Mets’ top farm club. They will also play a pair of 1:05 games Saturday and Sunday.

After an off day Monday, the schedule reverts to the six-game series format that has been in place in the International League since 2021, and on Tuesday, the home opener against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs will start at 4:05.

Ticket information for Innovative Field

To purchase tickets for any game, visit https://www.milb.com/rochester/tickets/single-game-tickets . The cost is $17 for the 100 level and $13 for the 200 level. All of the night games in April and the first half of May will start at 6:05, while the day games will either be at 1:05 with the exception of the 11:05 a.m. start on Wednesday, April 17. After mid-May, night games switch to 6:45.

A Red Wings 10-Game Flex Pack is a way to save a little money. The flex packs come as voucher books or diamond debit cards and can be used for any 2024 game. For 10 games in the 100 level, the cost is $155 and it’s $115 in the 200 level.

What are the recurring home game promotions?

Tuesdays : all tickets are half-priced (excluding Opening Day);
Wednesdays : Every night game starting May 1 the Wings will be giving away replica jerseys;
Thursdays : Select night games are for the Plates ; Pre-game happy hours (with $2 beers at the 10th Inning Bar, courtesy of Bud Light, and Genesee Beer); College Nights ($15 ticket includes 200-level ticket and $5 Diamond Dollars with valid college ID);
Fridays : Post-game fireworks starting May 17;
Saturdays : Post-game fireworks starting June 1;
Sundays : Kids run the bases after the games.

For a complete guide to the ballpark, visit https://www.milb.com/rochester/ballpark/fan-guide .

Here’s a preview of the 2024 team:

Starting rotation has tremendous potential

LeCroy is excited about the pitchers he’ll be able to trot out for the start of the early-season games as all five are on the Nationals’ 40-man roster, meaning all five are pitchers they believe have a legit chance to play in Washington.

“As long as I’ve been with the Nationals I don’t think that’s happened at Triple-A,” LeCroy said. “This is a sign that our organization is starting to come together and starting to trend in the right direction.”

The fivesome is comprised of Juan Adon who will draw the Opening Day start in Syracuse, joined by Jackson Rutledge, Mitchell Parker, DJ Herz and Thaddeus Ward.

Rutledge was the Nationals’ first-round draft choice in 2019 , and Parker was a 2020 fifth-rounder. Ward was a Rule-5 draft selection off the Red Sox roster in 2022, and Herz came to the Nationals from the Cubs in the July 2023 trade that sent Jeimer Candelario to Chicago.

Rutledge started 11 games for the Wings in 2023 and had a 4.44 ERA; Adon started 17 and had a 4.62 ERA; and Parker started three and struggled to a 10.45.

The late-inning bullpen will be an experiment

Major league teams generally know who their closer will be, but in the minor leagues, a number of pitchers will be utilized in all different scenarios including the ninth inning.

“At the beginning I’ll give everybody a chance that I think has a chance to close and see who takes it,” LeCroy said.

He mentioned the trio of Jacob Barnes, Rico Garcia, and Adonis Medina as the relievers who will share the late innings, and the bridge pitchers will include two MLB veterans, Robert Gsellman and Richard Bleier.

Gsellman pitched to a 4.59 ERA in six seasons with the Mets, then spent most of 2022 and 2023 in Japan. The 37-year-old Bleier, a lefty specialist, has pitched for the Yankees, Orioles, Marlins and Red Sox and has a career ERA of 3.27. Also in the pen will be Luis Reyes and Joe LaSorsa who spent time in Rochester last season.

James Wood and Trey Lipscomb could be stars

The Nationals have high hopes for Wood, a 6-foot-6 outfielder, and Lipscomb, a versatile infielder. In fact, Lipscomb was already recalled to Washington on Saturday.

Wood was the key piece in the 2022 trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres and he’s now the No. 2 prospect in the system behind only outfielder Dylan Crews, a player who will be in Double-A to start but could be in Rochester later this year.

Wood will see time at all three outfield spots, and he’s going to be hitting in the 2-hole because his career minor league slash line is .291 average/.388 on-base/.527 slugging. He has 41 home runs in 231 games and his OPS is .915, so the sky appears to be the limit for the 21-year-old. “I’m excited for him because he’s not far away,” LeCroy said.

Lipscomb was Washington’s third-round pick in 2022 and he was one of the last cuts by the Nationals earlier this week after he hit .400 with a .455 on-base in 55 spring plate appearances. Last year at Double-A Harrisburg, he hit .284 with 10 homers and 45 RBI. “He’s another big kid that can impact a baseball and he can play all four infield positions,” LeCroy said. “He’s another one, if he stays hot like he did in spring training, there’s a good chance that he goes to DC as well.”

Well, that happened, though it's uncertain how long he'll be there. He could be back to Rochester soon.

Other key players on the roster

The top returning Red Wing is Travis Blankenhorn. He had a great 2023 for the Wings as he slashed .262/.360/.517 and hit 23 homers with 75 RBI. That got him to Washington for the final couple weeks, but after the season the Nationals outrighted him back to Rochester and when he rejected that assignment, he became a free agent. However, he wound up re-signing a minor league deal to return here and he’ll be a fixture in the 3- or 4-hole.

“He had an unbelievable year last year and to be able to put him in the middle of our lineup for some protection for James, I think that’s the biggest part of that,” LeCroy said. “He earned his spot in the big leagues last year and if he can do what he did last year, he’ll find his way back up there, too.”

Four other players who were with the Wings last year who will play key roles are outfielder Alex Call, catcher Drew Millas, infielder Jake Alu, and infielder/outfielder Darren Baker.

Call played 128 games for the Nationals but struggled to a .307 on-base; Alu has been primarily with the Wings since 2022 and he hit .323 and .298 in those two seasons; Millas will draw the bulk of the catching assignments each week, backed up by Brady Lindsly; and Baker, who had a promising 2023 cut short by an injury, gives LeCroy a versatile and speedy bench player.

Two new players who will be in the regular starting lineup are speedy outfielder Jacob Young and first baseman/DH Juan Yepez.

Young, who had a brief stint in Washington last year and stole 13 bases in just 33 games, will likely be the leadoff hitter. He hit .304 in spring training for the Nationals, the same figure he had at Double-A last season.

And Yepez came over from the Cardinals’ organization where he flashed some power at Triple-A Memphis. He’ll see time at first base and DH.

“When your organization gets the depth that we’re starting to get, now it’s about winning, and preparing these guys for how to win a ballgame and our front office for the Nationals, they want to bring a championship back here,” LeCroy said. “I feel like we’ve got a team here that when we go out there, we’ve got a chance to win every ball game. I’m a competitor and I’ve been in player development a long time but it’s still all about winning and hopefully we’ll do whatever we can to win and put these guys in situations to succeed so we can win.”

Sal Maiorana can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which comes out every other Friday during the offseason, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Red Wings: Everything to know about 2024 season

Trey Lipscomb (38) turns a double-play during a spring training game for the Nationals.

IMAGES

What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?
What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What you need to know
Designated for Assignment
What Does Designated for Assignment Mean?
What happened to Kelvin Gutierrez? What team does Kelvin Gutierrez play
What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?

COMMENTS

What does designated for assignment mean in baseball? Explaining MLB's
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.
Designate for Assignment (DFA)
Definition. 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 outright or unconditional ...
What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about
What does designated for assignment (DFA) mean in baseball? This is how the MLB.com glossary explains the process: "When a player's contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated "DFA ...
Designated for assignment
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 ...
MLB options, waivers and outright assignments, explained
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 ...
What does 'DFA' mean in baseball? It's not an endearing abbreviation
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.
Designated for Assignment
Also known as DFA, "designated for assignment" is a procedure in baseball where one team removes a player from the 40-man roster. However, it's not the same as an out-and-out release thanks to the seven-day limit. Within these seven days, a Major League Baseball team must do one of the following: Return the player to the 40-man roster (a ...
What is Designated for Assignment (DFA) Mean in Baseball?
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.
MLB outright waivers: How do they work?
Note that this is different than being designated for assignment.Designating a player for assignment immediately removes that player from the 40-man roster. Within seven days of being designated, the player can either be traded (if the DFA is made before the Trade Deadline) or placed on outright or unconditional release waivers.If the player clears outright waivers, he may be assigned outright ...
Force out: What happens to players who are designated for assignment
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 ...
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.
What does designated for assignment mean given the Lorenzo Cain news?
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 Designated for Assignment (DFA) Process in Major League Baseball
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.
Major League Baseball transactions
Major League Baseball transactions are changes made to the roster of a major league team during or after the season. They may include waiving, releasing, ... (In all cases, an assignment of a player on a major-league injured list to the minors while on a rehabilitation assignment does not count as time spent in the minors.)
Minor League Options
Definition. Players on a 40-man roster are given three Minor League "options." An option allows that player to be sent to the Minor Leagues ("optioned") without first being subjected to waivers. Players who are optioned to the Minors are removed from a team's active 26-man roster but remain on the 40-man roster.
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. After designating a player for assignment, the club must make one of the following ...
What is Designated for Assignment (DFA) in Baseball
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 ...
What Does DFA mean in Baseball? A to Z Detail
DFA means Designated for Assignment. When a player falls into this term, the team will immediately remove him from the 40-man roster. However, the team can replace that player with another one to fulfill its 40-player roster. One crucial thing I should mention, DFA does not mean out-and-out release.
MLB options explained: How do options work in MLB?
When a player gets optioned, it means that they have been taken off of a team's active major league roster, and been sent down to the minor leagues. This transaction does not take them off of the 40 man roster however, so they can re-join the major league club at a future date.
Orioles Designate Tyler Nevin, Ryan McKenna For Assignment
The Orioles set their Opening Day roster today and made a few roster moves, including designating outfielder Ryan McKenna and infielder Tyler Nevin for assignment. The 40-man roster count drops to 38.
What does Designated for Assignment mean in MLB? Albert Pujols contract
The near-decade-long Albert Pujols era in Anaheim has come to an end. On Thursday, the Angels stunned the MLB community when they announced that Pujols has been designated for assignment in the final season of his 10-year, $254 million deal. The 41-year-old slugger is now set to leave the AL franchise but netizens were then curious to know the designated for assignment meaning and whether ...
HELP: explain the difference between "optioned" and "reassigned" : r/mlb
Thank you! I believe the options or reassignments are correlated to each MLB team being allowed to have an additional 15 players contracted, besides the normal 25-man roster. Thus being able to swap out players that are still contracted by the team itself. With that being said. there are restrictions on how many times options can be done ...
What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about
Here's a look at the MLB designated for assignment process. 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 ...
MLB Spring Training SS meaning: What does SS mean in MLB Spring
A look at some of the reactions to the MLB's new pitch clock rule so far through the 2023 Spring Training One of the major talking points so far has been the new rule about the pitch clock.
Outright Waivers
Definition. When a player is placed on outright waivers, the other 29 Major League clubs have the opportunity to claim him. The claiming club assumes responsibility for the remaining money owed to the claimed player, who is placed on his new club's 40-man roster. Claiming priority is based on reverse winning percentage. So, if a player is ...
Rochester Red Wings: Everything to know about 2024 season
Fried chicken sandwich, one of the new food items on the menu for the Rochester Red Wings upcoming 2024 baseball season unveiled during Food Media Day at Innovative Field in Rochester Wednesday ...

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

What does designated for assignment mean?

What's next for Cain?

Why did the Brewers designate Cain for assignment?

Who is Jonathan Davis ?

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

How old is Cain?

What was Cain's contract?

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

What are Cain's career stats?

Cain started his career with the Brewers

Cain won a Gold Glove with the Brewers

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

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

3. How can a player appeal a DFA decision?

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

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

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Designated for assignment

Place the player on waivers [ ]

Trade the player [ ]

Release the player [ ]

What Does Designate for Assignment (DFA) mean in Baseball?

What does Designate for Assignment (DFA) mean in Major League Baseball?

What is the 40-man roster?

What are Waivers?

Why a player gets DFA while active in the Major League Service?

Options for a Major League Baseball Team with a DFAed Player

Place the player on waivers

Trade the player

Release the player

Option a Baseball Player – What does it mean?

What Happens When Major League Player is Released?

Major DFA incidents in the History of the Major League

Chris Gimenez

Chris Young

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DFAed mean?

Is there any DFA in Minor Leagues?

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