clear waivers

clear waivers

Of a professional athlete, to be released by a professional team and then not claimed by any other team in the league. If we demote him, do you think he'll clear waivers? I just don't want another team in our division to get ahold of him.
See also: clear, waiver
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

clear waivers

To be unclaimed by another professional club and therefore liable to be assigned to a minor-league club or released.
See also: clear, waiver
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • waiver
  • cap space
  • tap up
  • free up cap space
  • free agent
  • on waivers
  • the old boy network
  • the old-boy network
  • network
  • old-boy network, the
References in periodicals archive
Barring further major injuries -- an iffy proposition these days -- with luck Worcester might get one player back from the NHL Sharks in either Matthew Nieto or Bracken Kearns, and Kearns would have to clear waivers. Tomas Hertl has not been declared out for the season yet, but he had knee surgery so he's unlikely to be a factor at either level.
World Peace must first clear waivers before any of those teams have a chance to negotiate with him.
Anton Forsberg has to clear waivers before the Hawks could assign him to Rockford, a risk they clearly aren't ready to take yet.
One would suspect he'd at least investigate the idea of signing the future Hall of Famer should he clear waivers, especially considering the uncertainty here at the position.
Johnson, Boston's leading preseason scorer with four goals, was the team's last roster cut on Sunday, but had to clear waivers before joining the P-Bruins.
Wims might be the favorite for the other spot, not because he's the best or most ready, but because he may have shown too much so far in camp to clear waivers and get to the practice squad.
The Bruins kept 14 forwards, including Jordan Caron and Nick Johnson, both of whom have to clear waivers to go to Providence, and eight defensemen, including a surprise keeper in Kevan Miller.