The 2026 World Series begins on Oct. 23 with Game 1. It is a best-of-seven series and can end no later than Oct. 31. Five days after the end of the World Series is the start of free agency for all players who qualify. Teams have an exclusive window during that time to re-sign their players before full free agency begins.
During this period, qualifying offers are submitted to eligible players, with players having 10 days to accept or reject them.
The General Manager meetings take place Nov. 9-12 and
will be much more interesting this year with the impending lockout that will begin if no CBA is reached by Dec. 1 at 11:59 pm with the lockout following the next day.
Owners meetings take place Nov. 17-19. Fans are not sure what to expect from this meeting, as the CBA negotiations will determine whether the owners have any real business to decide.
Nov. 20 is the non-tender deadline for players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league experience. If a player isn’t offered a contract by that date, they are free agents.
The scheduled Winter Meetings are Dec. 7-10 and will not take place if the league is in a lockout. Same for the Rule 5 draft and the draft lottery.
A stressful first offseason for the new owners
New San Diego Padres owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones are about two months into their ownership of the team. This offseason will not be a normal one in baseball, with a work stoppage a very real possibility.
The last lockout took place in the 2021 offseason. From Nov. 2 to Dec. 2 of 2021, the teams of Major League Baseball went on a rampage, signing players to contracts totaling over $1.9 billion to get in under the lockout. Teams were very busy before the lockout occured.
It remains to be seen if that same attitude will prevail this offseason. With a contentious negotiation sure to take place, it makes sense to get important players locked up before the blackout occurs. If teams wait for the conclusion of the CBA battle, the season will come quickly and signing players will be competitive and pressurized.
What to expect from Kwanza and José
The Padres’ new owners sent a letter to season ticket holders soon after the team’s elimination from the playoffs. It contained their pledge to further the legacy of the late Peter Seidler while continuing to pursue a World Series championship for San Diego.
“We said we were All IN, ” the letter read in part, “We meant it then. We mean it now.”
“While we felt the sting of this season ending too soon, we gained an even deeper appreciation for the championship dream you’ve carried long before we arrived,” they wrote later in the letter.
They added, “Your faith deserves more than words; it deserves action. We’re committed to earning your trust through the decisions we make and the work we do alongside Padres leadership.”
The key thought could be that their actions need to speak as loudly as their words. So far, their actions have been fun to watch. They attended games, sat in the stands with fans, and interacted. They dressed in team colors, participated in postseason celebrations, and talked to the media during those celebrations. Their enthusiasm and energy were obvious and noted.
What should they do while we all wait to see what happens with the new contract?
In that time between the end of the season and the start of the impasse, action needs to happen to prove to the fan base that they mean what they say.
Locking up Ty France would make a statement
First baseman Ty France has expressed a desire to stay here. He is at the end of the prime years of his career and probably won’t be getting top-tier money. Feliciano and Jones can make a big impression if they direct president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to begin negotiations and try to sign France before Dec. 2. A trade or a free agent signing of a pitcher could also signal to the fans that they are looking forward to 2027 and hope for another playoff run for the Padres.
Both Michael King and Adrián Morejón have big money ahead of them. There is a real possibility that the Padres will not be able to win a free-agent bidding war for either of them. If King opts out of his Padres contract and Morejón rejects a probable qualifying offer from the Padres, a bidding war for their services is almost guaranteed.
The Padres have a glaring hole in the place of a starting rotation for 2027
The first two acts of their first offseason as owners should be to sign France and a starting pitcher or two for whenever the 2027 season begins. Those actions would go a long way toward reassuring the Friar Faithful of their desire to keep the playoff cycle going. We should all understand this won’t be a normal offseason, but the fan base needs some tangible proof that 2027 won’t be a lost season because of labor unrest.
If José and Kwanza give Preller the power to do some work before any lockout occurs, it signals that when the labor situation is settled, the Padres will be busy filling out their roster.
Getting ready for Spring Training 2027 will be an easier job if some of the work happens early in the offseason. Feliciano and Jones can set a budget and give Preller early success with action soon after the World Series ends.
Padres News:
- Luis Campusano got some support from new Padres manager Craig Stammen as soon as he took the job and Campusano rewarded Stammen with his best season in MLB.
- Ethan Salas made his MLB debut at the end of the 2026 season and showed he can play at the game’s highest level, so what should be expected of the young catcher in 2027?
- Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at what the offseason could look like for San Diego.
Baseball News:
- All of the information you need to get ready for Game 1 of the World Series can be found here.
- The offseason could provide the Chicago Cubs a chance to focus on strengthening their rotation.
- Anthony Volpe could be the best option at second base for the New York Yankees in 2027.
- The Los Angeles Angels will have to find a new center fielder with Mike Trout moving to left.
- Dave Dombrowski is looking to freshen up the Philadelphia Phillies roster this offseason.
- James Wood is an offensive powerhouse, but the Washington Nationals need more consistency from him in 2027.
