The dust is still settling on an epic seven-game World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, which ended with an 11-inning thriller in Game 7.
As Los Angeles continues to celebrate back-to-back championships, all eyes in the baseball world now turn to the off-season, as 29 teams try to build teams they believe can dethrone the Dodgers.
The MLB off-season is busy with free agency, winter meetings and arbitration situations to sort out. Here are the key dates to know as the league’s 30 GMs begin to tinker with their rosters.
Nov. 6: Free agency and contract options
Free agency opens after the final out in the World Series is recorded but things really get going five days after that. The first five days are an exclusive window for teams to talk to their own free agents before the market opens up on Thursday.
Nov. 6 is also a deadline for a few other decisions:
• Teams and players must resolve any opt-out conditions in contracts.
• Teams must reinstate players from the 60-day IL to the 40-man roster.
• Teams must decide whether or not to issue eligible free agents qualifying offers.
Nov. 10-13: GM meetings in Las Vegas
MLB’s 30 general managers will meet in Las Vegas to discuss league business and begin laying the groundwork for trades and signings.
Nov. 10-13: MLB Awards announced
MLB still has some hardware to hand out.
Awards week will begin Nov. 10 with trophies handed out each day on MLB Network and as part of an award show in Las Vegas at the end of the GM meetings.
The schedule is as follows:
• Nov. 10: Rookie-of-the-year awards
• Nov. 11: Manager-of-the-year awards
• Nov. 12: Cy Young awards
• Nov. 13: MVP awards
• Nov. 13: All-MLB Teams, Hank Aaron awards, Comeback Players of the Year, the Mariano Rivera & Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the Year, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year and the MLB Executive of the Year, during an award show hosted by Mookie Betts and Roy Wood Jr.
Nov. 18: Qualifying offer deadline
Free agents who received a qualifying offer from their previous club have until Nov. 18 to decide whether to accept it or not. Qualifying offers are a one-year deal valued at $22.025 million next season.
If a player declines their qualifying offer and then changes teams in free agency, their previous club is eligible to receive draft pick compensation.
Nov. 18 is also the deadline for teams to add prospects to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft.
Nov. 21: Tender deadline
Teams must tender contracts to all unsigned players who are not free agents by this deadline, including arbitration-eligible players. Any player not tendered a contract will become a free agent.
Dec. 8-11: Winter Meetings in Orlando
The Winter Meetings bring all the teams together for discussions about league business and for teams, agents and players to discuss opportunities face-to-face.
Two notable events also occur during the Winter Meetings:
• Dec. 9: MLB Draft Lottery to determine the first six selections in the amateur draft.
• Dec. 10: Rule 5 Draft, where teams can pick up eligible players who are not on other teams’ 40-man rosters.
Jan. 8, 2026: Arbitration figures exchanged
Any player who is arbitration-eligible and not signed must exchange contract figures with their team by this date. The players and teams will then go before an arbitrator in the days following to determine a contract for the upcoming season.
Feb. 11, 2026: Pitchers and catchers report
Spring training for the 2026 season begins on Feb. 11, when pitchers and catchers report.
March 25, 2026: Start of regular season
The 2026 regular season begins on March 25, with the Yankees visiting the Giants. All teams get underway the next day, with the Blue Jays hosting the Athletics in their home opener.
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