so, it doesn't go from worst to first and then flip leagues? ah...i want a concrete explanation on this process... so...tampa releases jonny gomes...he has to make it all the way through the AL before the NL has any shot at him? Yes, it does go from worst to first and then flip leagues, but only in terms of determining which is the winning claim. Like I said, someone from MLB doesn't call Tampa Bay and say "You want this dude?", wait for an answer, and then move on to the next team. Yes, if Tampa Bay places Jonny Gomes on waivers, any claim placed on him by an AL team supercedes a claim placed on him by the Cubs.