MLB Teams' Options for Signing Players Past Trade Deadline and a Peek at Potential Transfers
As the MLB trade deadline passed on July 31 at 6 p.m. ET, teams can no longer make trades involving players on 40-man rosters. However, the roster-building process doesn't have to come to a halt.
Waiver Claims and Free Agent Signings
Teams can still acquire players via waivers and free agency after the deadline. Waiver claims allow teams to remove players from the 40-man roster and acquire them, while free agent signings are not restricted by the trade deadline.
Jalen Beeks, currently on the injured list with back inflammation, is expected to return soon and could be a potential waiver claim for contenders. Waivers still exist in August and September, but they are not revocable. If your player gets claimed, he's gone.
Last year, Yuli Gurriel spent the entire season in Triple-A with the Braves before being acquired by the Royals on Aug. 31. Players like Shawn Armstrong, Robbie Grossman, Tommy Pham, Emmanuel Rivera, and Amed Rosario were claimed on waivers in August 2021. However, Marcell Ozuna's $16 million salary is too high for a waiver claim, and if he changes teams this month, he would have to be released by the Braves, making him available for any team for the prorated league minimum.
Minor League Deals and Call-ups
Teams often promote players from their minor league systems or sign free agents to minor league contracts to add depth after the deadline, but these moves don’t involve 40-man roster trades.
Postseason Roster Eligibility Deadline
The postseason roster eligibility deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. To be eligible for the playoff roster, a player must be in the organization by the deadline, period. CC Sabathia, if brought out of retirement by the Yankees, would not be postseason-eligible due to the postseason roster eligibility deadline.
August Waiver Candidates
Other August waiver candidates include Tommy Pham (Pirates), Josh Bell (Nationals), Andrew Heaney (Pirates), Jakob Junis (Guardians), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Pirates), and Michael Taylor (White Sox).
Limited Trade Options
Trades after the deadline are limited to players signed to a minor-league contract, players who have not been on a 40-man roster at any point this season, and players who have not been on the MLB injured list at any point this season.
While the trade market is now limited to minor leaguers, teams can also scour the waiver wire and free agency for potential acquisitions. Post-trade deadline trades are possible, and sometimes they involve familiar names.
September acquisitions are uncommon but can happen, such as Matt Moore's claim by the Marlins in 2019, but they would not be eligible for the playoffs if they were not in the organization by the Aug. 31 deadline.
In summary, once the deadline passes, trades are no longer allowed, but teams can still acquire players via waivers and free agency, albeit with more limited options compared to pre-deadline trades. This system allows clubs to continue adjusting their rosters throughout the rest of the season.
- Jalen Beeks, recovering from back inflammation, could be claimed by contending teams through waivers in August.
- Last year, Yuli Gurriel moved from Triple-A to the Royals after the August waiver deadline, despite having a high salary.
- To be eligible for the playoff roster, a player must be in the organization by the August 31 deadline, according to the postseason roster eligibility deadline.
- Teams can still make trades post-deadline, but these involve only minor-league contract players, players never on a 40-man roster this season, and players not on the injured list at any point this season.
- Minor league deals and call-ups are options for teams to add depth after the deadline, as they do not involve 40-man roster trades. Other August waiver candidates include Tommy Pham, Josh Bell, Andrew Heaney, Jakob Junis, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Michael Taylor.
