What does it mean when a baseball player clears waivers?

Question

I heard today that Mike Piazza, Wily Mo Pena,and Kyle Farnsworth have cleared waivers I don't know what it means.

Answer 1

When a player is placed on waivers, any team in the major leagues can claim that player off waivers. Claims are awarded based on team records. The worst team in the league gets 1st shot at the player if they want him, the team with the best record in the league gets the last shot. If no teams claim that specific player, he clears waivers and can now be traded to any team that wants him.

Jeff Cirillo was just claimed by the DBacks. The Twins put him on waivers and Arizona claimed him. The Twins could have pulled him off waivers and kept him, negotiated a trade with Arizona, or just let him go to the DBacks unrestricted. The Twins decided to just let him go as they needed to clear a roster spot and didn't have time to negotiate a trade, plus they saved money as Cirillo will now have to be paid by Arizona for the rest of the season.

Piazza, Pena, and Farnsworth cleared waivers because no body wanted to put in a claim for them and be stuck with their large salaries. Now, if a team wants one of them, they can negotiate with their respective clubs to help pay the costs of their large salaries.

This time of year, almost all players are placed on waivers. Andruw Jones, Manny Ramirez, 99% of them are claimed and pulled back by their organizations.

Answer 2

If a player is placed on waivers that means that they were either designated for assignment or sent to the minor league affiliate outright and were eligible to decline and did so. If they do that then they are placed on waivers so that another team can sign them without having to pay compensation. If they clear waivers then any team can sign the player without having to pay compensation.

Answer 3

It means no team wanted them or there contract.

Answer 4

can be traded on open market with contract