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.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

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) in Baseball - What Does it Mean?

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  • What is Designated for Assignment (DFA) in Baseball - What Does it Mean?

What is DFA in baseball

What is DFA in baseball

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 contract.
  • If the player clears waivers unclaimed, the team has 10 days to trade, release, or outright the player to the minor leagues.
  • Teams often DFA players when they need to open up a spot on their 40-man roster to add another player.
  • A DFA’d player can be claimed by any other team for $20,000 and assumed the claiming team takes on his existing contract.
  • Once a player is DFA’d, he remains on the team’s 40-man roster but is removed from the active 25-man roster.

So in summary, DFA provides teams a way to remove players from their 40-man roster while giving other teams a chance to claim the player before they become a free agent. It’s an important process in MLB roster management.

  • Definition: Contractual term used when a MLB team wants to remove a player from its 40-man roster
  • Immediately removes player from 40-man roster and active roster
  • Provides team with 7-day window to trade, release, or outright player to minors
  • Player’s contract remains valid during this period

Designated for Assignment: A Contractual Roster Move in MLB

In Major League Baseball, teams have a 40-man roster of players under contract that are eligible to play in the majors and minors. Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used when a team wants to remove a player from its 40-man roster.

What is Designated for Assignment?

Designated for assignment is a process that allows MLB teams to open up a spot on their 40-man roster. When a player is DFA’d, he is immediately removed from both the 40-man roster and 25-man active roster. This opens a spot for the team to add another player.

How Does DFA Work?

After designating a player for assignment, the team must place him on irrevocable waivers within 7 days. Once on waivers, any other MLB team can claim the player’s contract during a designated waiver period. If the player clears waivers without being claimed, the team has 10 days to do one of three things:

  • Trade the player to another team
  • Release the player from his contract
  • Outright the player to the minor leagues

Outrighting removes the player from the 40-man roster but allows the team to keep his contract and assign him to a minor league affiliate.

During the DFA process, the player’s contract remains valid. If claimed on waivers, the new team takes on the full contract. If not claimed, the original team decides whether to release, trade, or outright the player while keeping the contract intact.

Why Use DFA?

Teams commonly use DFA when they need to open up a 40-man roster spot for a prospect call up, new free agent signing, or trade acquisition. It lets teams shuffle their rosters while giving other teams a chance to claim DFA’ed players. DFA provides an important contractual mechanism for MLB teams to manage their rosters mid-season.

Reasons for Designating a Player for Assignment

  • To open up spot on 40-man roster (for trade, free agent signing, returning injured player, etc.)
  • Due to poor performance by the player
  • If player sustained serious injury
  • For financial/contract reasons

There are several common reasons why a Major League Baseball team might choose to designate a player for assignment (DFA):

  • Poor performance : If a player is struggling significantly and not producing at the level expected, a team may DFA him to open up a roster spot for someone else. This often happens with veterans who are underperforming.
  • Injury : Teams will sometimes DFA injured players in order to free up a roster spot for an active replacement. This allows them to add someone who can contribute immediately.
  • Surplus at a position : When a team acquires a new player or has a prospect ready for promotion, they may need to clear a roster spot at that position. DFAing a surplus player at that position is one way to do this.
  • Contract reasons : Sometimes teams DFA players to remove an undesirable contract from their books or to avoid player bonuses. DFA’ing the player allows the contract to be assumed by another team.
  • Change in direction : Teams may want to move on from aging, more expensive veterans in order to play younger prospects. DFA gives them a way to move out veterans.
  • Out of minor league options : Players who are out of minor league option years can’t be sent down without being exposed to waivers. DFA is often used in this scenario.

So in summary, DFA gives teams a contractual mechanism to swap out underperforming or redundant players on their roster in exchange for players they hope will provide an upgrade. It allows for roster flexibility.

DFA Process

  • Player is immediately removed from 40-man roster
  • 7-day period where team can trade player or place on outright waivers
  • If unclaimed, team can trade, release, or outright player to minors
  • Certain service time rules affect player’s options (reject assignment, etc.)

Navigating the Designated for Assignment Process

Designated for assignment (DFA) is used by MLB teams to remove players from their 40-man roster. When a player is DFA’d, he is immediately taken off the 40-man roster, opening a spot for the team to add another player. This starts the DFA process.

Once DFA’d, the team has 7 days to either trade the player or place him on irrevocable outright waivers. During this period, the player remains part of the organization but cannot play in any games. If the player is traded, the process ends there.

If the 7-day period expires, the team must outright the player to the minors by placing him on waivers. If he clears waivers unclaimed by other teams, he can be outrighted. This removes him from the 40-man roster while still belonging to the same team.

However, the player can reject an outright assignment if he has accumulated at least three years of MLB service time. In this case, he can elect free agency to sign with any team. Otherwise, the player accepts the outright assignment.

If the player is claimed on outright waivers, the claiming team takes on his contract and adds him to their own 40-man roster. There is no option to reject the assignment.

Throughout the DFA process, the player’s contract remains valid and intact. Once DFA’d, the original team can either trade, release, or outright the player while keeping him under contract. DFA provides teams with roster flexibility while the player awaits his resolution.

The intricacies of the DFA process are governed by MLB’s collective bargaining agreement. It provides teams with a procedural mechanism to shuffle their rosters during the long baseball season.

Outcomes for DFA’d Player

  • Returned to 40-man roster
  • Traded to another team
  • Claimed off waivers by another team
  • Released and becomes free agent
  • Outrighted to minor leagues

Possible Outcomes When Designated for Assignment

Being designated for assignment is not necessarily the end of a player’s time with their current MLB team. There are a variety of outcomes that can occur after a player is DFA’d.

Return to 40-Man Roster

After designating a player for assignment, the team has 7 days to trade, release, or place the player on irrevocable waivers. During this initial period, the team may decide to remove the DFA designation and return the player to the 40-man roster. This scenario is rare, but provides one possible outcome.

Traded to Another Team

If the team opts to trade the DFA player within the 7-day period, his contract is assigned to the new team in exchange for another player, draft pick or cash considerations. The acquiring team inherits the player’s current contract.

Claimed Off Waivers

If the team places the player on outright waivers, any other MLB club can claim him within the designated waiver period. If claimed, the player is assigned to the new team’s 40-man roster. His contract remains valid.

Released as a Free Agent

If the player clears outright waivers with no team claiming his contract, his team can unconditionally release him. This grants the player free agency to sign with any MLB team.

Outrighted to Minors

The DFA team can also outright the player to the minor leagues after he clears waivers. This removes him from the 40-man roster while retaining his contracted services as an organizational depth player.

In summary, DFA leads to a variety of possible paths, including returning to the parent club, joining a new organization, becoming a free agent, or assignment to the minors. The outcome depends on waiver claim status and contractual details.

Strategic Uses of DFA

  • Roster management flexibility
  • Opportunity to trade player and get some value
  • Remove underperforming or ill-fitting players

Leveraging Designated for Assignment as a Roster Strategy

Designated for assignment provides MLB teams with an important mid-season roster management tool. There are several strategic reasons clubs use DFA throughout the long 162-game season.

Roster Flexibility

DFA creates room for additions through free agent signings, trades and prospect call-ups. By quickly removing a player from the 40-man roster, his spot can be filled by a new acquisition. This facilitates roster improvements.

Opportunity to Trade

Once a player is DFA’d, the team has 7 days to potentially trade him. This allows them to get some value in return, such as a low-level prospect. While most DFA players are unwanted, some still hold appeal for certain clubs.

Removing Underperformers

DFA is commonly used by teams to cut ties with veterans or role players who are underperforming expectations. Removing the player from the roster gives opportunities to others.

Change Direction

Teams may strategically utilize DFA to change roster construction and direction. This includes trading or releasing aging, expensive veterans in order to play younger prospects.

Minor League Depth

Players who clear outright waivers can be assigned to the minors while staying with the organization. This provides 40-man roster flexibility while retaining depth.

Trial Period

DFA may be used as a low-risk trial. If the player doesn’t perform after claiming, the new team can then DFA him themselves.

In summary, DFA allows teams to shuffle the roster and provides opportunity to access depth options, evaluate new players and cut underperformers. Teams leverage the DFA transaction strategically throughout MLB seasons.

Notable Examples of DFA Transactions

  • Pablo Sandoval, Adrian Gonzalez, Tim Lincecum
  • Shows unpredictability of process, even for big names

Big Name Players Subject to DFA Over the Years

While lesser known players are most commonly designated for assignment, even famous MLB stars have found themselves moving through the DFA process. Some examples:

Pablo Sandoval :

After signing a 5-year, $95 million deal with the Red Sox in 2014, Sandoval massively underperformed. He was DFA’d by Boston in 2017 to make room for prospects. Sandoval was later released.

Adrian Gonzalez :

A 5-time All-Star first baseman, he was DFA’d by the Atlanta Braves in 2018 shortly after being traded there. The Braves needed roster space and parted ways with Gonzalez, despite his successful career.

Tim Lincecum :

The 2-time Cy Young Award winner found himself DFA’d in June 2016 after his dominance waned due to injuries and lost velocity. The Angels cut ties mid-season once Lincecum was no longer effective.

Alex Rodriguez :

In 2016, the Yankees DFA’d A-Rod, one of the most decorated players of his era. They subsequently released him, cutting short his massive $275 million contract.

These examples show that even players with impressive track records and large contracts are not immune to the DFA process. Teams will move on from any underperforming or ill-fitting player, using DFA as the method.

The waiver claim element of DFA also shows its unpredictability. One team deems a player expendable, only for another team to eagerly claim that player off waivers for their own roster needs.

In the end, DFA is a necessary transaction within the business of baseball. For teams, even the biggest names are movable if it improves the roster.

In conclusion, Designated for Assignment is an important contractual mechanism that allows MLB teams to strategically manage their 40-man rosters during the season. Players can be immediately removed from the roster and replaced when they are underperforming, injured, have high salaries, or there is a surplus at their position.

The DFA process involves placing the player on waivers, where any team can claim their contract in a 7-day period. If unclaimed, the team can trade, release or outright the player to the minors while keeping him under contract. Well-known players are sometimes DFA’d as well, showing the unpredictability of the process.

Teams leverage DFA transactions to shuffle their rosters, open spots for prospects, remove struggling veterans, change direction, and add organizational depth. It provides flexibility to shape MLB rosters week-to-week over the long season. While seen as a sign of failure, DFA serves an important purpose in roster construction strategy. It is an essential tool for GMs seeking to improve their ballclub.

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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.

a player is designated for assignment

"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.

a player is designated for assignment

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

a player is designated for assignment

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a player is designated for assignment

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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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 player is designated for assignment

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.

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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?

The Baseball Lifestyle

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

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

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

The Role of Contracts in the DFA Process

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

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

Implications of Being Designated for Assignment

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

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

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

Reasons Why Players Get Designated for Assignment

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

1. Performance

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

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

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

4. Personal Reasons

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

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

a player is designated for assignment

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. 

What happens when a player gets DFA

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.

Jason Butler_Honest Baseball

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

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

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

a player is designated for assignment

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 .

Designated For Assignment Meaning Baseball [DFA Explained]

By Salim Prajapati , On 28 April 2023 03:54 AM

DFA has been actively implemented during the 2023 season

Designated For Assignment meaning baseball is the provision to expel a player from the 40 man team roster. DFA rule has been a part of MLB since 1985.

This contractual jargon allows teams to remove a player from their log and open up a spot for another player while leaving the DFA'd player with several options to continue playing with the same team or another.

After that, the team will have a maximum of seven days to decide what to do with the player: trade, release or transfer to the Minor League.

Before 2017, a time restraint of 10 days was enforced as the norm 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement instead of 7 days.

In April 2023, Arizona Diamondbacks triggered the DFA on the club's pitcher Madison Bumgarner . Bumgarner, who signed a sumptuous $85 million, 5-year agreement with Arizona in 2019, saw himself dropped on waivers. 

What Does It Mean To Be Designated For Assignment?

Designated For Assignment is a baseball term used in MLB which means the process of removing a player from the team roster.

When a baseball player is designated for assignment, he becomes ineligible to play on the Major League team for at least seven days until his team makes a judgment on what to do with the player.

Dodgers star Max Muncy with 11th home run of the 2022-23 season

To reach a definitive decision regarding the player in question and simultaneously open up their 40-man roster spot for another player, the club must ensure the complete expulsion of the player within the allocated 7-day timeframe.

When a player is designated for assignment, the team has to perform one of the following moves within the next seven days. 

  • Put the player on Waiver wire
  • Trade the player to another team
  • Release the player from their contract
  • Option the player to the minor leagues 

Milwaukee Brewers DFA Lorenzo Cain

Let's look at the example of former MLB center fielder Lorenzo Cain . The Milwaukee Brewers picked Cain in the 2010 draft but was immediately sold to the Kansas City Royals after a year in 2011.

In 2018, Milwaukee re-signed Cain and struck a substantial deal with Cain, sealing his presence in the club until January 2023 with a significant five-year contract worth $80 million.

Lorenzo Cain retired from professional baseball in March 2023

However, in June 2022, six months before his contract expired, the Brewers designated Cain for assignment following a series of lackluster performances.

He was placed on waivers within seven days of action, but Cain subsequently cleared the waivers and was released by the club, ultimately becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Lorenzo brought an end to his blazing MLB career on March 7, 2023. He was included in the MLB All-Star two times and won the World Series championship in 2015

Designated For Assignment MLB

Designated For Assignment meaning in MLB describes the contractual agreement. In baseball, it means to dismiss a player from the team's 40-man roster.

An MLB team possesses the full authority to designate for assignment any player from their roster, provided the club deems the player's services unnecessary or for various other reasons.

Former MLB player David Aardsma was DFA'd by White Sox in 2008

When a baseball player is designated for assignment (DFA), the team has seven days to either bring the player back to the 40-man roster, put the player on waivers, trade, release, or outright the player to the Minor Leagues.

If the team chooses to outright the player, he will be withdrawn from the 40-man roster and sent to the Minor Leagues. However, if the player clears waivers, he may either be sent outright to the Minor Leagues or released.

After the player clears waivers, the club has to release him from the contract, and he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team, even the team that just released him.

Madison Bumgarner Designated For Assignment

The 33-year-old MLB pitcher Madison Bumgarner has been placed on DFA by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The club released a statement on Thursday, April 20, 2023, stating that Madison, who joined the club in 2020, was designated for assignment. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed Bumgarner on DFA in April 2023

The Diamondbacks are preparing to put the baseball pitcher through the waiver wire. Since Bumgarner has more than five-year experience of playing in the MLB, he has to agree to be sent to the minor leagues. In other words, Madison has to give their consent to be assigned to a minor league team.

Bumgarner agreed to join Arizona in December 2019 for five years and $85 million. He still has $34 million left to be paid until the end of next season.

DFA Is Used While Adding Newly Acquired Player To Roster

DFA comes into play for various reasons, one being when a team intends to add a newly acquired player to their roster.

A Major League Baseball team employs the DFA mechanism for several motives, which include injury, poor performance, or when they plan to incorporate a recently acquired player into the team register.

Reasons Why A Team DFA A Player

  • To make room for new players
  • A player is injured
  • A string of poor performances
  • To maintain roster flexibility
  • Rule 5 Draft

If a player is not performing up to expectations or is injured and is expected to miss an entire season, or to shield a minor league player from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, or to add new players, a team may activate the DFA.

Mike Adams was designated in 2006

Though the precise inaugural inception of The Designated for Assignment (DFA) rule is not clear, some reports claim it was first implemented by MLB in 1985.

The use of this terminology can be traced back to the 1970s, a time when the media first started incorporating this phrase into their vernacular.

The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book oversees the MLB player trades and mentions the DFA rule in its pages.

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Designated for Assignment in Baseball: Key Rules and Strategies

a player is designated for assignment

In Major League Baseball, team rosters and player contracts are subject to constant change. One particular term that holds significant importance in this regard is “designate for assignment” (DFA).Understanding the DFA process and its implications on a player’s career is essential for anyone looking to learn more about the intricacies of Major League Baseball.

When a player’s contract is designated for assignment, he is removed from his team’s 40-man roster immediately. This action triggers a seven-day window within which the team must either trade the player or place him on irrevocable outright waivers.

The primary objective of the DFA process is to create flexibility for teams to manage their rosters while allowing them the opportunity to keep or release players based on performance or strategic considerations.

In general, a player that has been designated for assignment may find his career trajectory altered, as he could either end up being traded to another team, outrighted to a minor league team, or released from his contract entirely. As such, the DFA process plays a vital role in shaping the dynamics of professional baseball, impacting both teams and players alike.

Designate for Assignment Definition

Reasons for designating a player, waiver period, player outcomes, roster management, trade opportunities, notable dfa examples.

Designate for Assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB) when a team wants to remove a player from its 40-man roster.

This action allows the team to make room for a new player or provide flexibility in managing its roster. Once a player is designated for assignment, the team has seven days to decide the player’s fate, which could include trading, releasing, or outrighting the player to the minor leagues, among other options.

In addition to being removed from the 40-man roster, the player is also taken off the team’s active roster, meaning they cannot participate in any games during the seven-day period. The designated player’s contract remains in force, and they continue to receive their salary and benefits during this time.

To facilitate the player’s potential move to another team or the minor leagues, the player can be placed on waivers for a specified period. Waivers provide other MLB teams with the opportunity to claim the player and assume their contract. If multiple teams place a claim, the team with the weakest record in the player’s league is given priority. If the player is not claimed by any team during the waiver period, they can then be outrighted to the minor leagues, traded, or released.

However, if the player has accrued a specific amount of Major League service time, they may have the right to refuse an outright assignment to the minor leagues, opting instead for free agency.

There are various reasons a baseball team might opt to designate a player for assignment (DFA). One common reason is to make room on the 40-man roster for another player. The move allows the team to immediately remove a player from their roster and provides them with some roster flexibility.

Another reason for designating a player is due to their performance. If a player is experiencing a significant slump or has consistently failed to meet the team’s expectations, the DFA process can be implemented as a method to allow the player to refocus, find their form, or make adjustments while they are in the minor leagues.

Injuries can also be a factor. When a player sustains a serious injury and is unable to contribute to the team, it may be necessary to designate them for assignment to open a roster spot for a healthy replacement. Similarly, when a player who was previously on the injured list is ready to return to the team, the organization may need to DFA another player to make room.

Lastly, financial considerations can come into play. In some cases, a team might designate a player for assignment due to their contract, such as when a high-priced player is underperforming and the team wishes to move on without having to pay that player’s remaining salary. This could make DFA an option for teams who are trying to reduce payroll while still retaining some control.

DFA Process

The process of Designated for Assignment (DFA) in baseball involves removing a player from a team’s 40-man roster. This step provides teams with flexibility in managing their player rosters and creates opportunities for the player in question to find a new role within another team.

When a player is designated for assignment, the team has seven days to determine the next course of action. During this period, the player can be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers, allowing other teams to claim the player (MLB.com) .

There are several possible outcomes for a player who has been designated for assignment:

  • Returned to the 40-man roster: The team can choose to reverse the decision and return the player to the 40-man roster
  • Trade: The player can be traded to another team during the waiver period, allowing both teams to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement.
  • Waivers: If the player is placed on waivers and claimed by another team, the new team takes responsibility for the player’s contract.
  • Release: The player is released from the team, effectively making them a free agent and able to negotiate a new contract with any team.
  • Outright to the Minor Leagues: If the player clears waivers, meaning no teams claim the player, they can be outrighted from the 40-man roster into Minor League Baseball, allowing the player to continue their career within the organization.

The DFA process creates flexibility for teams to adjust their rosters as needed, while providing players with the opportunity to find new roles within the league.

Strategies and Implications

Designating a player for assignment (DFA) is a useful roster management tool in baseball. When a player is designated for assignment , they are immediately removed from the team’s 40-man roster, but their rights are retained by the team. This allows the team to explore different options within a seven-day window, such as trading the player or placing them on irrevocable outright waivers.

Utilizing the DFA process can help teams manage their roster more effectively by providing flexibility in making decisions. Teams may choose to designate a player for assignment if they need to clear roster space for an incoming player or if they believe the player is no longer a suitable fit for the team’s strategy. This process also provides teams with the opportunity to find appropriate solutions for both the team and the player, minimizing the risk of losing the player without receiving any return value.

When a player is designated for assignment, there are trade opportunities that may benefit the team. The player can be traded to another team within the seven-day window, allowing the original team to potentially receive assets in return. This can include other players, cash considerations, or a combination of both.

Trading a designated player provides teams with the possibility of acquiring additional resources that may be more aligned with their strategic goals or fill specific needs on the roster. It serves as a last resort for the team to recoup some value from the player before potentially losing them via waivers.

In summary, the designated for assignment process in baseball offers valuable roster management and trade opportunities for teams. By strategically using this tool, teams can optimize their roster composition and take advantage of potential trade returns to build a competitive team.

Throughout the history of Major League Baseball, many players have been designated for assignment (DFA). While some DFA cases are unremarkable, others involve notable players or have led to interesting outcomes. Here are a few prominent examples:

One such case involved former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval who was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox in 2017. After experiencing a significant decline in performance and dealing with health issues, the Red Sox ultimately DFA’d Sandoval , eventually releasing him.

Another significant example is the 2018 DFA placement of four-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez by the New York Mets. The first baseman struggled in his time with the Mets and was consequently designated for assignment , eventually released and then retiring.

Former Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum also experienced a notable DFA in 2016, when the Los Angeles Angels removed him from their 40-man roster due to poor performance. In this case, Lincecum cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A before ultimately electing free agency later that year.

In summary, these notable DFA examples showcase the unpredictability and challenges faced by professional baseball players. The designated for assignment process is a reminder that no player is immune to changes in performance, injuries, or other factors that may lead to their removal from a team’s 40-man roster.

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Tigers' TJ Hopkins: Designated for assignment

Hopkins was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Thursday.

The move comes just two days after Hopkins was claimed off waivers, as the Tigers needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Gio Urshela. Hopkins, 27, has already been in three different organizations this offseason and could make it four as he goes through the waiver process again.

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Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers claim reliever Kolton Ingram off waivers; Nick Maton designated for assignment

Nick Maton , a 26-year-old infielder who worked as primary third baseman at the beginning of last season, has been designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers .

The Tigers claimed left-handed reliever Kolton Ingram off waivers Monday from the Los Angeles Angels, and to create room for him on the 40-man roster, Maton was cut with less than two weeks until the first full-squad workout in spring training.

Ingram, 27, pitched in five games for the Angels last season, posting an 8.44 ERA with five walks and seven strikeouts across 5⅓ innings. He was originally selected by the Tigers in the 39th round of the 2019 draft, then released by the Tigers in July 2020.

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THE PLAN: Tigers manager A.J. Hinch ready for 'optionality' at third base in 2024

The Tigers — under president of baseball operations Scott Harris — acquired Maton with outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for left-handed reliever Gregory Soto and utility player Kody Clemens in January 2023.

Thirteen months later, Vierling is the only player from that trade on the Tigers' 40-man roster, while Soto remains under team control with the Phillies through the 2025 season and Clemens is still on the Phillies' 40-man roster.

Maton, a left-handed hitter who crushes fastballs but struggles against secondary pitches, failed to establish himself in the big leagues last season as the everyday player at third base.

THE LONE WOLF: Nick Maton shows some bark and some bite for Tigers: 'Everyone loves Wolfie'

He hit .173 with eight home runs, 38 walks and 73 strikeouts in 93 games. He was worth minus-eight defensive runs saved at third base and minus-three defense runs saved at second base. He produced a minus-1.1 fWAR and minus-1.5 bWAR with the Tigers before finishing the season in Triple-A Toledo.

Maton does not have any minor-league options remaining.

Ingram made his MLB debut with the Angels in June 2023. He struggles in five games, but he was stellar with Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake.

He logged a 2.95 ERA with 34 walks (13.3% walk rate) and 77 strikeouts (30.2% strikeout rate) across 61 innings in 45 relief appearances. He had a 3.21 ERA with a 28.5% strikeout rate across 33⅔ innings at the Triple-A level.

Ingram signed with the Angels as a minor-league free agent in March 2021, after the Tigers released him in July 2020. He was the No. 1,102 pick in the 2019 draft out of Columbus State University.

Another roster move: Right-handed reliever Devin Sweet , a 27-year-old who was claimed off waivers Jan. 18 from the San Francisco Giants and designated for assignment Jan. 29 to create room for prospect Colt Keith on the 40-man roster , cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

Sweet has an above-average changeup.

Contact Evan Petzold at  [email protected]  or follow him  @EvanPetzold .

Listen to our weekly Tigers show  "Days of Roar"  every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at  freep.com/podcasts .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers claim reliever Kolton Ingram off waivers; Nick Maton designated for assignment

Sep 26, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kolton Ingram (66) throws against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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MLB Trade Rumors

Brewers Designate Jahmai Jones For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | February 21, 2024 at 3:25pm CDT

The Brewers have designated infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones for assignment, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . His roster spot will go to right-hander Brandon Woodruff , whose previously-reported signing is now official.

Jones, 26, signed with the Brewers in July of last year. He spent most of the rest of the season on optional assignment, only getting into seven big league games, hitting .200/.273/.300 in those. He exhausted his final option year in the process and is now out of options, which was going to make it challenging for him to hang onto a roster spot going forward.

A second-round pick of the Angels back in 2015, Jones was once a top 100 prospect but has generally struggled to take his strong minor league work up to the majors. He got a brief cup of coffee with the Halos in 2020 before being dealt to the Orioles for Alex Cobb in February of 2021. He got into 26 games as an Oriole in 2021 but then required Tommy John surgery in May of 2022. He was later designated for assignment and released, as injured players can’t be put on outright waivers. That led to a two-year minor league deal with the Dodgers, though he opted out of that pact last summer before signing with the Brewers.

Amid all those jersey swaps, he’s hit .179/.233/.226 in a tiny sample of 90 plate appearances in the big leagues. But he’s been much more impressive on the farm, hitting .254/.378/.441 over the past three years. That includes a line of .268/.413/.466 last year between the systems of the Dodgers and Brewers, drawing walks in 18.7% of his plate appearances while only striking out in 21.8% of them. That production was 22% better than league average by measure of wRC+.

Jones also stole 12 bases in the minors last year and lined up defensively at second base, third base and the outfield corners. His time at third was minimal, just nine innings, but he’s also played center field in previous seasons.

The Brewers will have one week to trade Jones or try to pass him through waivers. He could garner interest based on his past prospect pedigree, strong offense in the minors and defensive versatility. However, since he is now out of options, he’ll have less roster flexibility going forward.

15 Comments

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Strange that you have to clear a 40 man roster spot for a player who is headed right to the 60 day IL. On the flip side a spot would have to be made for Sanchez when his contract becomes official so perhaps this takes care of that as well

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Need another spot on 40 opened up.

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It’s always been that way to my knowledge, because only a guy on your 40 man roster is even eligible to be placed on the 60 day IL. But it is a bit ironic because teams often end up losing/cutting a player they’d prefer to keep just to activate a guy and place him on the 60 day IL.

' src=

Right, this paves the way for the Sanchez signing to be official because Woodruff is going right to the IL.

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If that rule wasn’t in place then anybody who is injured could all just sign with the same team and go straight to the IL without taking a roster spot. It would effectively create a pathway for one or two teams to have an all star caliber roster just stashed on the IL and the rest of the league would be screwed.

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Any team with 39 players could do this, so I suspect that is not the case.

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Just remember that going on the 60-day IL opens up a 40-man spot. Not the 10/15 day.

This whole conversation is about the 60-day IL.

' src=

Another wasted draft pick from the Angel’s.

' src=

Nope, not wasted for the Angels. They got Alex Cobb for him who was helpful.

Do the Astros have an open 40 man roster spot? Seems like a low-risk, high reward pickup that could help them.

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Tigers need to sign this guy to a minor league deal.

100%. I’ve always wondered what he could do with an extended run in the big leagues.

' src=

Baltimore media hyped him up pretty good. Fan base including me were psyched to have him in 2021. In hindsight, looks like the Os FO wasn’t as impressed. Os did a bit of a pivot move bringing in Rougned Odor off season to cover 2b in 2022 then Frazier in 2023. Gut says he would’ve been a DFA candidate in 2022 regardless of health.

' src=

Jo Adell is on a similar trajectory as Jones. Just sayin’

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  1. What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?

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  2. Designated for Assignment in Baseball: Key Rules and Strategies

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  4. What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?

    a player is designated for assignment

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

    a player is designated for assignment

  6. What does designated for assignment mean in baseball?

    a player is designated for assignment

COMMENTS

  1. What does designated for assignment mean in baseball? Explaining MLB's

    One of the more unique-to-baseball transaction types is to be designated for assignment. If a big leaguer is underperforming significantly, a team might decide that it is time to hit the DFA...

  2. Designated for assignment

    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 player, or "send outright" the player from the 40-man roster into Minor League Baseball. [3] Governance

  3. Designate for Assignment (DFA)

    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 release waivers.

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

    When a team designates a player for assignment, it is setting aside the player, not completely releasing them from the team. Reasons for Designating Players for Assignment A team can designate a player due to various reasons. It can be for changing the game strategy and tactics or trying to strengthen the team.

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

    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 ...

  6. 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 ...

  7. 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...

  8. The Designated for Assignment (DFA) Process in Major League Baseball

    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.

  9. Why Do Players Get DFA (Designated for Assignment)?

    Designated for assignment (DFA) is a term used in baseball to describe a move by a team to remove a player from its active roster. The player is then placed on the team's reserve list, where they can remain until the team either releases the player or trades them. The term is used by Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB).

  10. What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about

    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...

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

    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.

  12. What does designated for assignment mean in MLB? What to know about

    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...

  13. What happens when a player is designated for assignment in MLB? Fans

    Designated for assignment position is generally utilized by the clubs to make a port on their 40-man roster for either a newly acquired player through trade or free agency, calling up a minor ...

  14. 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:

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

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

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

    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.

  17. What does designated for assignment mean given the Lorenzo Cain news?

    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 ...

  18. What Does Designated for Assignment Mean?

    Players Who Were Designated for Assignment While being designated for assignment is a long way from flattering, it's not necessarily the end of a player's career. Many players have been DFA'd and come back bigger and better than ever, while others have struggled to find their place in the game. David Ortiz

  19. Designated For Assignment Meaning Baseball [DFA Explained]

    When a baseball player is designated for assignment (DFA), the team has seven days to either bring the player back to the 40-man roster, put the player on waivers, trade, release, or outright the player to the Minor Leagues. If the team chooses to outright the player, he will be withdrawn from the 40-man roster and sent to the Minor Leagues.

  20. Designated for Assignment in Baseball: Key Rules and Strategies

    Designate for Assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB) when a team wants to remove a player from its 40-man roster. This action allows the team to make room for a new player or provide flexibility in managing its roster.

  21. Designated for Assignment

    About Transactions data Current Designated for Assigment List top CSV Glossary Data Store TBC PREMIUM Grid Actions: Players who are currently with a designated for assignment status.

  22. Major League Baseball transactions

    Designated for assignment. A player who is designated for assignment (DFA) is immediately removed from the 40-man reserve list. This gives the team time to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed. Once a player is designated for assignment ...

  23. Designated for Assignment (DFA)

    In this case, a player can be Designated for Assignment (DFA). 1. When a player is Designated for Assignment, the "Designated Player" is removed from his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and MLB Active List (26-man roster), and then the club has up to seven days (formerly ten days) to either trade, release, or non-tender the player, or ...

  24. Tigers' TJ Hopkins: Designated for assignment

    Hopkins was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Thursday. The move comes just two days after Hopkins was claimed off waivers, as the Tigers needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for ...

  25. Tigers Designate TJ Hopkins For Assignment

    The Tigers announced that outfielder TJ Hopkins has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move for infielder Gio Urshela, who was signed to a one-year deal earlier today. Hopkins, 27 ...

  26. Austin Adams Designated For Assignment Tuesday

    The New York Mets designated relief pitcher Austin Adams for assignment on Tuesday to make roster space for newly signed reliever Jake Diekman, per MLB's Anthony DiComo. The 32-year-old was signed ...

  27. Detroit Tigers claim reliever Kolton Ingram off waivers; Nick Maton

    Nick Maton, a 26-year-old infielder who worked as primary third baseman at the beginning of last season, has been designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers.. The Tigers claimed left-handed ...

  28. Brewers Designate Jahmai Jones For Assignment

    The Brewers have designated infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones for assignment, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. His roster spot will go to right-hander Brandon Woodruff, whose ...