Mostly from an old dedelman post:
If you designate a player without options for assignment with revocable waivers and he gets claimed, the player enters a sort-of limbo where the only two options you have are to trade him to the claiming team or release him; you can't assign him anywhere.
Next time, just waive these players without designating. Then, if they clear, you can demote (and remove from 40-man roster if necessary). If they don't, they're still on the BL roster. If you really need him off the major league roster right away, and are willing to lose him, designate him with irrevocable waivers (and lose him if claimed). If the player has options remaining, demote him if you want him off the ML roster, then place him on revocable waivers without designating him.
5/18/2017 8:54 AM (edited)