When reporting on contracts and player movement, be mindful of wording. Do not report that a player has “signed” or been “traded” unless the source uses that language.

For instance, none of the following examples indicate a signing or trade being consummated.

The Lakers and Pelicans are finalizing details on a trade that would send Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.

Vladimir Guerrero has agreed to a 14-year, $500 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Mookie Betts is in advanced talks to ink a long-term deal with the Dodgers.

The Phillies agreed to send prospects to Cleveland in exchanged for starting pitcher Cliff Lee.

An “agreement” is not final. Many agreed-to deals have fallen apart later. Furthermore, many contracts are agreed to during designated periods in which formal signings are specifically prohibited, such as the NBA and NFL’s tampering periods. Therefore, reporting that a player has “signed” during these windows would mean the team broke the rules.

A signing is not official until it has been formally announced by the signing club, preferably via a news release. However, an original post on the team’s website or official social media accounts is also sufficient. Note: The term “officially announce” is redundant and should be avoided; an announcement, by definition, makes the news official.

When in doubt, adhere to the exact vocabulary used by the source, and clarify phrasing whenever possible.