[BleacherBum593]

From my transaction dictionary file:

5. Designated for Assignment

When a club designates a player for assignment, it allows the club to open up a roster spot while it figures out what it is going to do with a player. Most often a player is designated for assignment so the club can open up his roster spot while they wait for him to clear waivers. A club may also designate a player for assignment while they try to trade him to another club.

4. Waivers

A waiver on a Major League Player is defined as "...a permission granted for certain assignments of player contracts or for the unconditional release of a Major League player..."

A Major League Player placed on waivers will have "cleared waivers" if after three business days following waivers have been requested he has not been claimed by another team. If a player "clears waivers", the team has secured waivers on that player for the rest of the waiver period.

A team can do one of three things with a player once he has cleared waivers. They can send him to the minors, for veteran players with the consent of the player, they can release him, making him available to other teams, or they can trade him to another team, regardless of whether or not the trading deadline has passed. In order for a team to trade a player past the July 31st trading deadline, he must have first cleared waivers.

If a player placed on waivers is claimed by another team, the club requesting waivers may withdraw the waiver request. If the club doesn't withdraw the waiver request, the player's contract is assigned based on certain criteria. If only one club claims the player, that club is awarded the player. If more than one club in the same league makes claims, the club currently lower in the standings gets the player. If the claim is made during the first 30 days of the season, the previous season's standings are used to determine who gets the player. If clubs in both leagues claim the player, the player will always go to the club in the same league as the club requesting waivers.