What exactly does sending a player for assignment really mean?

Question

Yesterday the Reds optioned David Ross for assignment. Is this a soft way to say he's been fired? Or is he going to Triple A? They did say they sent Homer Bailey to Triple A but not Ross.

Answer 1

Its sending him to one of your minor league affiliates to work on his game.  Happens all the time for younger guys with two way contracts that dont have to clear waivers when they get sent down.

What sandman said, but they are not gonna let David Ross walk, he will be assigned to the triple A team

Answer 2

It means he's going down to the minor league.

Answer 3

If he is designated for assignment, the team has 10 days to either a) send him down to a minor league affiliate or b) trade him to another team..If neither of those two things happen in the 10 day period, the player is released and becomes a free agent

EDIT:

Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed. After designating a player for assignment, the club must make one of the following contractual moves:

-Place the player on waivers (which can only be done within the first 7 days of the 10-day period)

-Trade the player

-Release the player

However, a player must clear waivers (that is, no other team may place a waiver claim on the player) to be sent to a minor league team

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_...