Waivers are a league process that allows teams to release players from their contract while giving other teams a chance to claim them before they become free agents.
When a player is placed on waivers, they are essentially put into a waiting period where every other team in the league has the opportunity to pick up their contract as-is.
Waivers protect the competitive balance of a league by preventing wealthier or more aggressive teams from instantly snatching up talent the second someone is released.
They also help teams manage roster spots, injury replacements, and salary cap limitations.
How Waivers Work In Different Leagues
🏈NFL
The NFL waiver system is heavily active during the preseason, trade deadline, and post-injury waves.
- When a team releases a player, he goes on waivers for 24 hours.
- All teams have the option to claim, ranked by inverse record.
- If no team claims the player, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Use Cases
- Roster trimming before the regular season.
- Salary dump or dead cap management.
- Younger players get opportunities via claim.
Example
Baker Mayfield was waived by the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and later claimed by the Rams. Los Angeles then absorbed the remaining contractual amount of his deal, and he was their starter within 3 days.
🏀NBA
Waivers are less common but still exist in NBA contract manipulation.
- Standard waiver period: 48 hours
- Players released before March 1st of every year can sign with playoff teams and still be eligible to play for their new team in the postseason.
- Cap hits may remain depending on the contract’s guarantee structure.
Use Cases
- Buyout candidates after the trade deadline.
- Veterans on underperforming contracts.
- Two-way or G-League transitions.
Example
Russell Westbrook was waived after a trade to the Jazz and signed with the Clippers post-buyout, a classic playoff chase move.
⚾MLB
MLB has revocable waivers, outright waivers, and players designated for assignment. It’s a deep system and used frequently.
- After DFA, a team has 7 days to trade, waive, or release the player.
- Players claimed off waivers must be added to the 40-man roster.
Use Cases
- Moving aging veterans
- Clearing 40-man roster space
- Test market for trade interest
Example
Josh Donaldson was placed on waivers by the Yankees in 2023 and claimed by the Brewers, clearing millions from New York’s books.
🏒NHL
Waivers are commonly used in the NHL, especially for moving between major and minor leagues (AHL).
- Required for players with certain experience levels moving down.
- Standard waiver period is 24 hours.
Use Cases
- Sending underperforming players to AHL.
- Bringing up rookies without clogging roster.
- Injury call-ups and demotions.
Example
Martin Jones was waived by the Seattle Kraken and later picked up by the Maple Leafs as goaltending insurance.
⚽MLS & International Soccer
In soccer, waivers function very differently from the NFL/NBA/NHL model. MLS does use a waiver process, while most international leagues do not, but they do have comparable mechanisms like “free transfer periods,” contract terminations, and mutual releases.
How Waivers Work in MLS
MLS does have a formal Waiver Process used for players who are released by their club.
Players who do not qualify for Re-Entry Free Agency or Free Agency.
As well as, Homegrown players or young talent who haven’t hit certain service-time thresholds
When a player is placed on waivers
- All other MLS clubs get the opportunity to claim him.
- Claim order is based on reverse standings early in the season or allocation order, depending on timing.
- The claiming club assumes the player’s existing contract.
Use Cases
- Roster cuts before the MLS season
- Young players who haven’t met the age/service-time requirements for MLS Free Agency
- Veterans released mid-season
- Players whose contracts were terminated due to fit, injuries, or roster-cap reasons
How It Works Internationally
Most major soccer leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A) do not use waivers. Instead, they use:
- Free transfers (players leave at end of contract)
- Mutual terminations
- Transfer-listing (a club signals a player is available for sale)
- Loan recalls/releases
- FIFA rules around player registration windows
If a player is cut outside the transfer window
- They have to wait for the next registration period or,
- Sign in a league whose window is open or,
- Move to a country that permits free-agent signings year-round
Waivers aren’t needed globally because contracts are handled via transfer windows, not league-controlled roster rules like in U.S. sports.
MLS Example
A young defender released by LA Galaxy who doesn’t qualify for MLS Free Agency would go through waivers. If Austin FC claims him, they absorb his contract at the exact cap hit and salary amount.
International Example
Meanwhile, if a similar player is released by a Premier League club like Everton, he becomes a free agent, not a waiver claim, and must wait until a transfer window to sign unless specific exceptions apply.
🥊UFC / Combat Sports
Waivers don’t technically exist in combat sports.
Contracts are not held to league-wide structures in the same way.
However, release clauses and promotion buyouts are the closest thing to league structured waivers.
⛳Golf / Tennis / 🏎Racing / Individual Sports
No waiver systems exist.
Players are individuals, not tied to team contractual agreements and unionization.
Why Waivers Matter
Waivers matter because they control player mobility without chaos.
They help
- Balance talent throughout the league.
- Maintain competitive fairness.
- Give overlooked players second chances.
- Let teams shed salary or reshuffle without complete losses.
They also shape deadline deals, cap management, and roster restructuring for playoff pushes.
Fans should care too, because once a guy hits waivers, his next move might shape a championship.
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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
– Philippians 4:6
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