It is official! The off-season in MLB is upon us and now we set our sights on what is going on between now and opening day. In some regards, the off-season is as enjoyable as the games are. Every true baseball fan will be following closely what their favorite team will be doing to make them better, There will be joy and there will be gnashing of teeth at each and every decision made by each team and their brass. Let’s know what is going on in the off-season at MLB.
MLB Off- Season Important Dates
October
28-31 For five days player can only negotiate with their team of 2020 if they are an eligible free agent. Also, team, vesting and mutual options must be exercised in the time frame.
Also qualifying offers (one year only) have the same five days to deal with their free agents. The salary was set at $18.9 million for 2021. After that the player has 10 days to reject or accept the offer. If they reject it then they are able to sign elsewhere. If they sign with another team then the previous one will receive draft compensation.
November
2– Finalists are announced for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year and the Cy Young award.
3– Winners of the Gold Glove award are announced.
9-12– The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announced their winners of the in order of Rookies of the Year, Managers of the Year, Cy Young and MVP.
20– Rule 5 Draft eligible players must be added to the 40-man poster or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. The draft is done in reverse standings order and can select from other clubs.
TBA– The General Manager Meetings will be held virtually in November.
December
2- At 7 p.m. is the non-tender deadline where teams must tender arbitration eligible players to the 40-man roster or allow the player to become a free agent.
Dec. 6-10 – The Winter Meetings are to be held in Dallas at the Omni Dallas Hotel and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Clubs and their front office meet with each other to conduct business involving the signing of free agents and/or to make deals with other teams to trade players. This is undecided if it wuill be in-person or done virtually. The Rule 5 Draft is usually done on the last day of the meetings.
January
15– eligible players tendered contracts have until noon on Jan. 15 to agree to a salary, which generally is based on performance and comparable players from recent seasons. If they do not agree to a salary by Jan. 15, each side submits a figure and goes to a hearing in February with a panel of arbitrators.
February
27- Spring Training is scheduled to begin but is subject to change.
April
All 30 teams open April 1 on 2021 MLB schedule but subject to change.
Other Dates
The 91st All-Star Game is scheduled to be played on July 13 at Trust Park in Atlanta, Georgia with the World Series scheduled to begin on October 26, 2021.
Game 7 is scheduled for November 3, 2021.
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