Baseball veteran Jason Heyward is currently dominating headlines after being designated for assignment (DFA) by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The seasoned outfielder signed with the team in 2022 after completing a seven-year stint with the Chicago Cubs. However, the 35-year-old athlete has now been released despite hitting a pinch-hit, go-ahead three-run homer in his latest game. But what exactly happened to Jason Heyward?
Here are all the available details regarding the MLB star’s recent situation.
What happened to Dodgers’ veteran Jason Heyward?
The LA Dodgers have decided to DFA Jason Heyward, effectively removing him from their roster.
The five-time Gold Glove awardee was let go by the team to activate utilityman Chris Taylor. As a result, Jason Heyward currently finds himself without a team in the middle of the ongoing baseball season.
After joining Los Angeles in 2022, the former Atlanta Braves star enjoyed a renaissance campaign in 2023, hitting .269 with 15 homers and a .813 OPS. He followed this by recording a .208 average with six homers and a .682 OPS for the Dodgers in 2024, as per MLB.com. His injury-riddled season eventually met an abrupt end after being designated for assignment by the Blue Crew.
What does DFA mean in baseball?
In baseball, DFA stands for “Designated For Assignment.” When a player receives this status, he is immediately removed from his team’s 40-man roster.
MLB teams often use this rule to replace certain players with better or more suitable alternatives. The player then enters a transitional period of seven days, during which he is eligible for trade or placement on waivers.
By designating a player for assignment, teams can permanently release him, trade him, or assign him to the minor leagues. This process differs from putting players on waivers, where the player becomes available for other teams to claim him for their 40-man roster.
