What is No-Trade Clause?

A contract clause that lets a player block a trade to certain teams or, in some versions, to any team.

What this tells us

When a player has a no-trade clause, his team can't send him to another roster without his permission. Some clauses are "full" — he can veto any deal — while others are "limited," giving him a list of teams he won't waive it for. Teams use these to retain star players; players use them to control their own destiny.

Limitations

A no-trade clause is a blunt instrument: it prevents trades entirely rather than adjusting compensation or contract terms. It also doesn't prevent the team from buying him out, sending him to waivers, or leaving him in the minors (though the latter two are rare for stars with NTCs). And it doesn't guarantee a player will stay — he can still request a trade and negotiate a waiver.

Example

A star forward in Year 4 of a six-year deal might have a full no-trade clause, meaning his team can't deal him without his say-so. A mid-tier veteran might have a limited clause that lists 10 teams he won't accept. Rookies and journeymen rarely have them.