How Changing the Waiver Trade Deadline Messed Up Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball should make it easier for fans to see more veteran players in the playoffs.
Baseball made a major change to its player transaction rules entering the 2019 season that are still being felt today. Historically, players could change teams via trades until the September 1 deadline for being on the playoff roster. The controversial change now makes that harder. Here’s why.
The Trade Deadline
The July 31 trade deadline is the last date during the season when teams can make trades without needing players to clear waivers first. After this date, teams cannot trade players unless the players first go through the waiver process.
Players must change teams through trade or waiver claim to be eligible for the postseason with a new team before September 1. Keep this date in your head as we move through the rest of the discussion.
Waiver Deadline (Pre-2019 Rule)
Before 2019, there was an additional “waiver trade deadline” on August 31. After the July 31 deadline, teams could place players on waivers. If a player cleared waivers, they could be traded. If a player was claimed, the original team could let the claim go through, work out a trade with the claiming team, or pull the player back from waivers.
The Justin Verlander Deal
Hall of Famer Justin Verlander’s deal in 2017 is a prime example of how high-profile players could change teams after the official trade deadline. Such deals happen when one team is looking to offload salary, especially if its playoff hopes become remote after the trade deadline, and a contending team sees an opportunity to bolster its roster for a playoff push.
The trade was largely about the Tigers shedding Justin Verlander’s salary. Detroit was looking to rebuild, and Verlander’s contract was a significant burden as the team was not in contention. The Tigers relieved themselves of a large financial commitment and picked up three prospects in the deal.
Verlander achieved significant success with the Houston Astros, winning the World Series that year and a Cy Young Award.
In recent years, the waiver process has seen several notable players being claimed after the trade deadline. These claims often happen when teams are looking to offload salary or when a. Here are a few examples:
Post-2019 Changes
Starting in 2019, once the July 31 trade deadline passes, players cannot be traded after that. Teams can still use waivers to release players but not to trade them. If a team doesn’t move a player at the trade deadline, the best it can do is shed salary if another team picks up the player.
High-profile player movement after the July 31 trade deadline and before the September 1 playoff roster deadline has become less common.
Why Was The Change So Unbelievable
Baseball prides itself on a long regular season. Injuries happen. Teams on the bubble fall out of contention as the summer winds down. Teams now face increased pressure to make decisions by July 31, leading to more aggressive or riskier trades.
The old process was complex but a strategic part of the season. Teams could use it to block rivals from acquiring key players or add a veteran at a lower cost.
Fans like to see high-profile players in the playoffs, and veteran players like having one more shot at winning the World Series. The change essentially ends this option.
Post-2019 Transactions
Teams can still place players on waivers for the purpose of release. The claiming team assumes their contract if a player is claimed off waivers. The worst teams are given priority for claiming a player off waivers.
In August 2023, the Los Angeles Angels placed five players on waivers, including Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, and Hunter Renfroe. The Angles got nothing in return. The team gave up the rest of the season, disappointing fans and playoff contenders looking for a competitive spoiler.
On August 15, 2024, the Colorado Rockies placed Elias Díaz, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP, on outright waivers. The Cleveland Guardians need a viable catcher for this year’s playoff run, but not having a cheaper trade option for Diaz once he clears waivers makes the move improbable.
Fans and Major League Baseball suffer as a result of the 2019 change.
Looking to 2025 and Beyond
Baseball needs more opportunities for players to change teams before the September 1 playoff roster deadline. Major League Baseball prides itself on a long season and being a strategic game. The fans and the teams deserve more than a single trade deadline in the middle of the summer.
JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©. He is the author of Communicating Reliability, Risk & Resiliency to Decision Makers: How to Get Your Boss’s Boss to Understand and Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.
