Key offseason dates?

[Madhawk23]

Now that we know that the offseason will be starting later this evening after Game 7, I'm curious if someone can provide a quick outline on some of the key upcoming offseason dates. Like, when does free agency officially kick in and teams can start signing players? When can teams start making trades? I'm excited at what this offseason might hold (although, prepared to be somewhat disappointed), so I'm just wondering if someone has the key dates handy?

[Lathund]

Taken from another forum, originally from CBS I think.

 

Thursday, 9 am ET (1 pm GMT): All eligible players become free agents

 

Saturday Most contract options due. Includes opt-out decisions for Masahiro Tanaka and Justin Upton

 

Monday: Deadline to extend qualifying offers to eligible free agents. QO is set at $17.4MM

Reminder: Only players who were with a single team the entire 2017 season are eligible for qualifying offers, so the likes of Jay Bruce, Yu Darvish, JD Martinez (and Upton if he opts out)  cannot be given a QO.

 

Monday: Finalists named for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP

 

Tuesday: Free agency begins as 5-day exclusive negotiating period ends. Free agents now can talk to any team.

 

Tuesday: Gold Glove winners announced

 

Wednesday: Silver Slugger winners announced

 

13 November: Qualifying offer decisions due from players.

There are changes to compensation rules under the new CBA:

Signing a QO'd free agent

Team received revenue sharing in 2017: Forfeits their 3rd highest 2018 draft pick (not necessarily their 3rd round pick)

Team paid luxury tax in 2017: Forfeits their 2nd and 5th highest 2018 draft picks, plus $1MM in international bonus pool money for the 2018-19 signing period

All other teams: Forfeit 2nd highest 2018 draft pick, plus $500K in international bonus pool money for 2018-19 signing period/

 

Losing a QO'd free agent

Player signs a deal worth $50MM or more: Former team receives a 2018 draft pick after the 1st round

Player signs a deal worth less than $50MM: Former team receives a 2018 draft pick after Competitive Balance Round B, which is before the 3rd round

Former team paid luxury tax in 2017: Former team receives a compensation pick after the 4th round, regardless of contract size.

 

13-16 November: Major award winners announced. Rookies of the Year on the Monday, Managers of the Year on the Tuesday, Cy Youngs on the Wednesday, and MVPs on the Thursday

 

13-16 November: GM meetings in Orlando

 

20 November: Deadline for teams to add Rule 5 Draft eligible prospects to 40-man roster. Generally speaking, prospects drafted out of college in 2014, or high school in 2013, or signed as an international free agent in 2013 become eligible this offsesason.

 

1 December: Non-tender deadline

 

10-14 December: Winter Meetings in Orlando

 

14 December: Rule 5 Draft

 

13 January: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit salary figures. Teams and players can still negotiate a contract of any size after this date, which is more of an administrative deadline than a "you must get a deal done by this date" deadline.

 

mid-January: 2018 Hall of Fame class announced

 

early to mid-February: Arbitration hearings

 

Mid-February: Spring training begins.

 

29 March: Opening Day. All 30 teams will open on the same day. It's been moved up a bit to accommodate extra off days during the season that the players union wanted in the new CBA.

[Madhawk23]

Thanks for posting. Very helpful to have this all in one spot.

[KeithStone53151]

Agreed, much appreciated. This might be a good thread for a mod to pin to the top for easy access.

[djoctagone]

i'd add that in late march 2018 near the end of spring training, any player in big league camp as a non-roster invitee who spent all of 2017 on a major league roster and/or major league disabled list has to be added to the club's 40-man roster and optioned (if possible) or added to the 40-man roster and subsequent opening day roster. if not, that player can opt out of his contract and sign with any team as a free agent.

 

this is a protection given to players with major league experience who sign a minor league deal with a club.

 

also, not sure of the required date, but at some point (and i'm pretty sure it's after players declare free agency and are removed from the 40-man), clubs have to activate all players on the 7-day, 10-day and 60-day disabled lists. in the case of the 60-day disabled list activation, that player needs to be returned to the 40-man roster or outrighted/released.

 

the brewers don't have anybody on the 60-day disabled list to activate, so there's no roster manipulation concerns here.

[pacopete4]

This should probably get pinned at the top. Thank you for finding all the dates.

[Warning Track Power]

I always forget...is it the GM Meetings in November or the Winter Meetings in December where a majority of trades occur?

[MrTPlush]

I always forget...is it the GM Meetings in November or the Winter Meetings in December where a majority of trades occur?

 

Winter Meetings...that is where a lot of the offseason action occurs.

[Outlander]

Bumping because I was looking for this and it was on the second page. Should see a bunch of roster activity within the next week.

[KeithStone53151]

bump again to keep near the top. Pinning this to the top would be helpful.