What does “DFA” mean in baseball and what happens when a player is designated for assignment?

[charlottehughes]

I’ve seen the term DFA used in baseball transactions but I’m not sure what it actually means. Can someone explain what happens when a player is designated for assignment in Major League Baseball? Also, what are the possible outcomes for the player after being DFA’d?

 

[samuelbarnes]

In Major League Baseball, “DFA” stands for “Designated for Assignment.” When a player gets DFA’d, it means they’ve been taken off the team’s 40-man roster to make space for someone else. The team then has a limited time to either trade, release, or send the player down to the minors if they clear waivers.

 

[levisanders]

"DFA" stands for Designated for Assignment in Major League Baseball. When a player gets DFA’d, it means they’ve been taken off the team’s 40-man roster while the team figures out what to do next. In a short time, they could be traded, released, or sent down to the minors if they clear waivers.