What happened: Jacob deGrom declined to waive his contract protection ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/jacob-degrom-2026-trade-deadline-rumors.html)

Why it matters: Players can negotiate these protections in free-agent deals and contract extensions, securing control over potential destinations. For clubs, a proposed roster move can therefore require the player's consent as well as agreement on the return.