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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →When an MLB player clears outright waivers, no other club claimed him. His team may then assign him to the Minor Leagues, but clearing waivers does not itself release him or make him a free agent. What happens next depends on the player’s assignment rights and whether he accepts the assignment.
What it means to clear outright waivers
Outright waivers give the other 29 Major League clubs a chance to claim a player. If no club claims him before the waiver process ends, he has cleared. His current club may assign him outright to the Minors, subject to his contractual rights; the assignment is a separate decision, not an automatic consequence of clearing.
If a club claims the player, he moves to the claiming club’s 40-man roster, and that club takes responsibility for the remaining money owed under his contract. If multiple clubs claim him, MLB awards the claim by reverse order of winning percentage. If clubs are tied at the lowest current winning percentage, the previous season’s winning percentage breaks the tie. MLB describes outright waivers as irrevocable. MLB’s outright-waivers glossary
What can happen after a player clears
- His club assigns him outright: He goes to the Minor Leagues, if his rights allow and he accepts the assignment.
- He rejects an assignment: A player with more than five years of Major League service time may reject a Minor League assignment.
- He elects free agency: A player with more than three years of Major League service time, or a player who has previously been outrighted, may elect free agency instead of accepting the assignment.
These protections are distinct. The right to reject an assignment is not the same as the right to elect free agency; MLB states the service-time thresholds as “more than” three or five years, not “three or five years or more.” A player’s prior outright history can also provide the free-agency election right.
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Where outright waivers fit after a DFA
A designation for assignment (DFA) immediately removes a player from his club’s 40-man roster. Under MLB’s current glossary, the club has seven days to trade him or place him on outright or unconditional release waivers. That seven-day period is the club’s DFA-processing window, not the length of the waiver claim window. MLB’s DFA glossary
| Path | What it means | Possible outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Outright waivers | Other clubs can claim the player. | If claimed, he goes to the claiming club’s 40-man roster. If unclaimed, his original club may assign him outright to the Minors, subject to his rights. |
| Unconditional release waivers | The club seeks to release the player. | If he clears, he is unconditionally released rather than assigned to the Minors. |
Clearing outright waivers and clearing unconditional release waivers therefore lead to different outcomes: the former can precede a Minor League assignment; the latter results in an unconditional release.
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How an outright assignment differs from an option
An option removes a player from the active 26-man roster while leaving him on the 40-man roster. An outright assignment follows removal from the 40-man roster and is relevant when a club seeks to send an out-of-options player to the Minors after a DFA. MLB says a player with fewer than five years of service and an option year remaining can be optioned; a player with more than five years must consent to being optioned. MLB’s option glossary
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Example: Triston McKenzie in April 2025
In an MLB report dated April 28, 2025, Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus. The report said he could have declined the assignment and become a free agent; he accepted and remained in the Guardians organization. His case illustrates that clearing waivers and accepting an assignment are separate steps. MLB’s April 28, 2025 report
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