the claim if a team ahead of them in line had also put a claim in on him. Also, under the "ten-and-five rule," if a player has ten years of Major League service, the last five with his current team, he cannot be traded without his consent. Release the player If a player is not traded, but has cleared waivers, he may be released from the team. The player is then a free agent and may sign with any team, including the team that just released him. The team that releases him is responsible for the salary the player is owed, less what he is paid by the team that signs him (in practice, the amount paid by the signing team is usually a prorated portion of the Major League minimum salary). Outright from the 40-man roster If the player clears waivers when being designated for assignment, he is most commonly removed outright from the 40-man roster and transferred to the roster of a minor-league affiliate of the parent club. Outrighting can also happen to a player who is already in the minors but occupying a 40-man roster space that the organization wishes to fill with another player. A player can only be outrighted without his consent once during his career. See also Major League Baseball transactions Notes References Baseball terminology Major League Baseball labor relations