Twenty-two Major League Baseball Clubs have completed the 2011 championship season; only eight remain in the post-season. Here are key dates for the off-season arranged so even a Trogluddite like me can understand it. In fact, I’m gonna’ go out on a limb and say if it’s not on this list, it’s not a key date.
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Date |
Event |
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October 1st |
Clubs may no longer option players to an MiLB team |
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October 19th |
MiLB teams may not trade players to any other team after this date |
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October 23rd-27th |
Eligible players automatically become free agents once World Series ends |
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October 28th – November 1st |
Free agents may negotiate with any club (midnight) five days after the World Series ends |
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November 18th |
All clubs must submit Major and Minor League Reserve Lists (the Major League Reserve List is the 40-man roster) to the Commissioner. For the most part, Minor League Reserve Lists cannot be modified until after the Rule 5 Selection meeting. |
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November 23rd |
Last day (midnight) for clubs to offer arbitration to players eligible to be free agents |
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November 30th |
Last day for a free agent to accept arbitration offered by his former club |
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December 1st |
Last day to request waivers to outright a player to an MiLB team |
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December 2nd |
Clubs must offer contracts to players on the club’s Major League Reserve List (and any reserved players on the restricted or disqualified lists) |
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December 5th – 8th |
MLB and MiLB Winter Meetings |
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December 5th (5:00 EST) |
Last day to outright a player to an MiLB team |
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December 6th |
MiLB teams may begin trading players to other teams |
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December 8th – 9th |
Rule 5 Selection Meeting |
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December 9th |
Clubs may begin offering contracts to players on the club’s MiLB Reserve Lists |
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Clubs may assign players to MiLB teams once Rule 5 draft is complete |
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December 11th |
Current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires |
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December 16th – 18th |
PirateFest |
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January 15th |
Last day that clubs may offer contracts to players on the club’s MiLB Reserve Lists |
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February 15th |
Clubs may again option players to an MiLB team |
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February 19th |
Earliest date that injured players, pitchers, and catchers may be invited to workouts |
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March 2nd |
Earliest date that spring training may begin |
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April 4th |
Opening Day, 2012 championship season |
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In case you’re wondering, all of this information from:
2008 Major League Rules and Professional Baseball Agreement
and the 2007-2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement
and of course MLB's official winter schedule.
PS - don't forget to bookmark this page so you can find it again when it disappears from the front page.
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