Off-Season Dates

With the end of the World Series (congratulations to the Dodgers for defeating Evil and keeping the planet safe), we have the official start to the off-season.

These are the dates things happen this off-season.

Today:

Players can become free agents

The Jays traded away most of the eligible players to be free agents. The only Jay who could be a free agent is Ryan Yarbrough. I’m sure they would like to keep him, but the Jays won’t be offering him a Qualifying Offer (which is to be $21.05 million).

Qualifying offers must be made by 5:00 Eastern Monday.

Teams have five days to talk to their free agents before other teams can start rolling out offers.

And teams (and players) have to decide to accept or void option years on contracts. The Jays settled Chad Green’s option. He’ll make $10.5 million next year and could be a free agent after that.

Teams have five days to add players on the 60-day IL to the 40-man roster. For the Jays, they are Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano, Will Wagner, and Daulton Varsho. The team will have to open four roster spots, as its 40-man roster is full. You can bet on who will be dropped in the comments, but I imagine some pitchers will be DFAed.

November 3rd:

Gold Glove announcements are made. Varsho better get one.

November 5-7:

The GM meetings happen. Not much will come out of that, but the chatbot sites will be churning out the rumours.

November 14th:

The MLB Awards will be handed out. This year, they will do it as an ‘awards show’ (like the Academy Awards with less slapping) that is happening in Vegas.

November 19:

4:00 Eastern is the deadline for players to accept or reject Qualifying Offers. And teams have to set their rosters to protect players from the Rule 5 draft.

The Week of November 18th:

The Baseball Writers of America announce the winners of their Awards (Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP). One will be announced each day.

November 22:

Non-tender deadline. The Jays have decisions to make regarding several players who are arbitration-eligible. Vlad, Romano, Varsho, Kirk, Swanson, Cabrera, Clement, Manoah, Tate and Pop. The last two might get non-tendered.

December 9-12:

Winter meetings. They will have the draft lottery and Rule 5 draft during the week.

January 9:

If they are heading to arbitration, players and teams have to exchange arbitration numbers. Hopefully, the Jays will have made deals with everyone by then.

February 20:

Spring Training starts.

March 18-19:

The MLB season starts in Japan. Dodgers and Cubs are playing.

March 27:

Opening Day.