[Pelican]

I have considered this, but have not done it yet. So I’m curious if anyone has tried it.

It can be frustrating to use the waiver process after the deadline. Most players are not going to sneak through without a claim. The exception might be a mediocre high-priced player, where no one wants to inherit the salary (except the other team in the pending deal - probably because of an agreement to pay a chunk of salary to get rid of the guy).

If I did away with the July 31 deadline, which seems early, I would still have one, probably August 31. I don’t want teams making trades in the heat of the pennant race. That seems unfair.

Even with the July deadline, the 2021 Braves, languishing out of contention, essentially acquired a new outfield. That seems wrong. But it would be a whole lot worse on August 31 or September 30, for sure.

One issue with the July 31 deadline is the potential for “rental” of pending free agents, where the guy’s contract expires at the end of the year, and his team, presumably out of contention, wants to get a little something, from a team, presumably still in contention, that could use the player for two months. That leads to some odd deals and temporary heroes (as with the 2021 Braves).

I gather the purpose of the July 31 deadline is to freeze rosters to some extent. The idea of “dance with the fella what brung ya”. The unintended consequence has been furious deals up to the deadline, contenders acquiring players and also-rans shedding them.