With the World Series drawing to a close and the baseball off-season officially beginning, it’s time for the annual list of dates that help us scratch tally marks into the walls as we wait for baseball to return. It promises to be an even longer wait this year, with a lockout looming in early December, meaning this calendar is subject to shift; we’ll pin this article on the front page and update it both with links to the relevant stories and the latest updates.
November:
1: Gold Gloves announced (Mariners’
Cole Young a finalist); Contemporary HOF ballot for managers, execs, umpires
2: Free agency officially opens at 5 PM ET; last day to issue Qualifying Offer (QO); players reinstated from 60-day Injured List; contract options deadline (Mariners did this the day after the World Series ended); Silver Slugger finalists announced; BBWAA Award finalists announced
6: Heart and Hustle Award announced
9: Rookie of the Year Award announced
9-12: GM Meetings in Las Vegas
10: Manager of the Year announced
11: MLB Awards Show
12: MVPs announced
17: Silver Sluggers announced; deadline for players to accept QO; 40-man roster finalized (deadline by which prospects must be prospected from Rule 5 Draft)
20: Non-tenders deadline
December:
1: LOCKOUT if new contract is not reached
6: HOF announcement
7-9: Winter Meetings (San Diego)
8: Draft Lottery (subject to cancellation)
9: Rule 5 draft (subject to cancellation)
February:
9: Pitchers and catchers report (subject to change)
19: First spring training game (subject to change)
March 25: Opening Day (scheduled)
