I usually keep the R5 guys I pick up for the entire season, so this is something I don't have a lot of experience with.

R5 guy with no minor league options left.  I decide I don't want him on my ML roster any longer, so I do an offer back.  He goes through waiver wire before being presented back to his original team to either be accepted back or declined.  He's not claimed, and the original team declines the offer back.  So he's still mine, but now minus the R5 designation.  I go to assign him to AAA, but I can't because he has no options and his waiver status is "none".

Since he just passed through and cleared the waiver wire as part of the offer back process, does it make sense that I now have to pass him through waivers again?  Shouldn't his waiver status be "Cleared" since he just passed through the waiver wire unclaimed?

Someone who doesn't want him as a Rule 5 guy (who *must* stay on the ML roster) may be interested in him as AAA depth...

Of course, he'd have to claim him, then have him clear waivers himself, but it could happen.

That makes sense, and that's what I was missing.  His first time through the waiver wire came with the R5 tag.  Now, he's gotta go through as a "normal" player.

Thanks.