MLB Waivers?

Question

I understand how they work but if a team is going to trade for a player who has cleared waivers, why didn't they just claim them in the first place?

Answer 1

they do, but first the all players involved must be passed over by the other mlb teams before any deals can be completed. That is why there are so few trades this time of year.

Answer 2

If a team claims a player off waivers and has the viable claim, his current team (the "waiving team") may choose one of the following options:

1. arrange a trade with the claiming team for that player within two business days of the claim; or

2.rescind the request and keep the player on its major league roster, effectively canceling the waiver; or

3.do nothing and allow the claiming team to (1) assume the player's existing contract, (2) pay the waiving team a waiver fee, and (3) place the player on its active major league roster.

If a player is claimed and the waiving team exercises its rescission option, the waiving team may not use the option again for that player in that season. If no team claims a player from waivers in three business days, the player has cleared waivers and may be assigned to a minor league team, traded, or released outright.

Answer 3

Needs change; a team that didn't need that slugging first baseman off the waiver wire on August 2nd might find they DO need him on August 20th.

Similarly, if a claim is filed and the player withdrawn (maybe the team doesn't really want to deal him yet), he cannot be placed on waivers again until, oh, whenever the next period begins, and so cannot be dealt at all.

Answer 4

right here's a occasion from somebody who asked comparable question. permit's say as an occasion the Marlins desire to commerce with the A's. situation #a million: The A's placed Frank Thomas on waivers. The Marlins declare him, yet then the Mets declare him because of the fact they do no longer want their branch rival Marlins to get him. The Mets and Marlins are the two interior the comparable league (national), so it is going by ability of record. The Mets get precedence because of the fact they have a worse record than the Marlins. The Mets won't commerce everybody for Frank Thomas. The A's decide for to furnish Frank Thomas and his earnings to the Mets so they do no longer ought to pay him anyomore. situation #2: The A's placed Emil Brown on waivers. This time, the Blue Jays and Marlins declare him. The Blue Jays are interior the comparable league because of the fact the A's (American), so they get precedence. The A's decide for that they might purely commerce with the Marlins and not the Blue Jays. They decide for Emil Brown is purely too effectual to purely supply him away, so they pull him off waivers and save him. situation #3: The A's placed Mark Ellis on waivers. No team claims him. because of the fact that he cleared waivers, he may well be traded. The Marlins and A's artwork out a commerce for him.