Could someone give me some clarity on this please? If I claim or trade for a player with no options remaining, can I assign him to the minors or am I forced to keep him in the majors? And what impact does his being on his old team's 40-man roster have, if any? Thanks in advance.

He would have to go on your ML team. But after you acquire him, you can put him on waivers and hope. If he clears waivers, then you can assign him to a minor league team.

His being on the other team's 40 man roster has no bearing on whether or not you need to have him on your 40 man roster. But obviously if you put him on your ML team, he will go on your 40 man.

Posted by bjschumacher on 12/25/2019 10:19:00 AM (view original):
He would have to go on your ML team. But after you acquire him, you can put him on waivers and hope. If he clears waivers, then you can assign him to a minor league team.

His being on the other team's 40 man roster has no bearing on whether or not you need to have him on your 40 man roster. But obviously if you put him on your ML team, he will go on your 40 man.

Are you sure about the second part of this? I thought that if he was off the 40, you could assign him to the minors, even without options.

I’m pretty sure BJ is right. There was one guy specifically I remember that I acquired and wanted to hold in AAA for 20 days. Turns out he had no options so I had to put him straight in the majors (or risk someone claiming him). Also happens when I sign minor league fillers/depth with no options.

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerTransactions.aspx?pid=8656334. Has no options, and yet I re-signed him as a minor league FA and was able to assign him to AAA, because he was not previously on anyone's 40-man.

That answers pray4pro's issue, but not Cheno5's-- just because you can sign such a player and assign to minors doesn't mean the same is true in trade or waiver claim. But it's rare to see someone on waivers who didn't come from someone's 40-man... the trade question is more pertinent.

Anyone I have ever aquired via trade with no options had to go to the ml roster or pass waivers.