Everyone, this is a formal announcement regarding the status of free agency.  It is closed until restricted free agency starts on January 1st, 2011 at 12:00 AM EST.

I will start accepting GM of the year votes publicly in this thread.  There are some good candidates out there such as the GMs of the Astros, Cardinals, White Sox, Athletics, Tigers, Blue Jays, Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, and Yankees.

The Astros win the tiebreaker over the Cardinals because they beat them in their one and only matchup.  We didn't have anything in the rules for tiebreakers to get into the playoffs.  We only have tiebreakers for the playoffs (which may never be used considering the low likelihood of such an event).  I like our H2H system... the schedule can only be improved if it is customized.  I offered a customized schedule prior to the season that was rejected (which is fine), but perhaps this is something that we need to consider again.

Anyways, congrats to Jeff and Kent for wrapping up those last playoff spots.  The first week of ALDS/NLDS action is as follows.

(18-5) vs. (14-9)
(18-5) vs. (17-6)
*Yankees had #1 seed over Athletics because of more points (no H2H matchup)

(21-2) vs. (17-6)
(18-5) vs. (13-10)
*Brewers do not play Astros in opening round because they are a division opponent

The Brewers-Phillies is an excellent match that we have been aware of for about a month now.  Likewise, the Athletics-Blue Jays tilt is another match that may feature a World Series winner.

Best of luck lady and gentlemen!

Now, regarding the GM movements that we expect to happen in the coming weeks.  I am not permitting Jeff to move to the Red Sox or Steph to resign until their teams' seasons are finished.  Our draft starts in a couple days which means some future GMs may miss their team's 1st round pick.  If a GM position is in limbo, then they can tell me who they want to pick.  If a GM is moving then the new GM can surely advise the lame duck GM of whom they want in the draft.

Waiver Rules
1) After the trade deadline (and before September), any player can be placed on waivers.  This would be done public on the transactions board with a separate thread for each player.  The thread should have "[waiver]" in the subject title.
2) Other teams have 72 hours to make a claim on such player.
3) If a player isn't claimed by any team in either league, he can be traded until the end of the month to anyone.
 If a player is claimed, but only by one team, the player can be traded only to the team that claims him.  If a player is claimed by more than one team, the club with the worst record in that player's league gets priority (player's league has priority over other league) -- and the player can be traded only to that team.
4) A decision on the player must be made within 72 hours of the claim.  If, within such a time frame, an agreement wasn't posted by both parties NOR was the waive canceled by the waiving team, then the player's contract is considered to moved to the claiming team in exchange for nothing. 
5) Players may not be put on waivers after August 31st but all other waiver transactions will finish their time frames until completion (rescind waiver, trade, release, transfer).
6) A waiver may be canceled only if the player was claimed.  Cancellation of the waiver by the waiving team within the 72 hour negotiation period means that the player can no longer be on waivers that August and stays with their team.
7) Aside from the waiving team pulling back the waiver within the initial 72 hour period, all claims must be made in the 72 hour window and all deals must be announced after the second 72 hour window has completed.

Players eligible to be traded in a waiver deal are those who were claimed by the respective teams in the waiver deal and any player on a P-n/a contract (prospect contract whose clock has not started).

The Boston Red Sox have let go Samuel Robinson due to extended inactivity and absence without notice.  Considering this is a popular (and a good one at that) team that many GMs would love to have, this position will be open for an extended period of time.  Any GM who managed one franchise for this entire season will be considered for the job if they wish to transfer.  Please post here if you are interested.

After three warnings, the Twins have been assigned a penalty of losing their last draft pick.  I had to make a cut decision for them, so I released Eric Chavez which saves the Twins money for this year.