A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a multi-mode transmission having a plurality of torque machines, and a driveline. A method for deactivating a torque transfer clutch of the multi-mode transmission includes imposing prioritized clutch torque constraints to an off-going clutch. The constraints include minimum and maximum long-term desired clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum soft clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum short-term desired clutch torque constraints that are superseded by minimum and maximum hard clutch torque constraints. The off-going clutch is controlled in response to the prioritized clutch torque constraints.