With MLB free agency underway, here are the key dates to keep an eye on this offseason...

NOV. 9: GM MEETINGS BEGIN

The annual meeting of general managers will be going virtual this offseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic and beginning on Nov. 9, per Newsday's Dave Lennon.

It is at these meetings that teams have conversations with one another, often in order to begin laying the groundwork for potential trades later in the offseason.

NOV. 11: DEADLINE FOR PLAYERS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT QUALIFYING OFFER

Any player who received the one-year qualifying offer for $18.9 million has until Nov. 11 to accept or reject it.

If a player accepts, he returns to his current team for the 2021 season.

If a player rejects and signs elsewhere, his former team receives draft pick compensation.

DEC. 2: NON-TENDER DEADLINE

Players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league service time must be tendered a contract each offseason by the non-tender deadline. This includes players who are due raises via arbitration. If a club non-tenders a player, he immediately becomes a free agent.

DEC. 7-10: MLB WINTER MEETINGS

Like the GM Meetings, the Winter Meetings this year will be conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the GM Meetings in November get the framework started for offseason moves, a whole bunch usually go down at the Winter Meetings.

DEC. 10: RULE 5 DRAFT

The Rule 5 Draft takes place on the final day of the Winter Meetings, with certain minor leaguers who are not on the 40-man roster available. If a team selects a player, they must keep that player on their 25-man roster for the entire season or be forced to offer him back to the team he was selected from.

JAN. 15, 2021: ARBITRATION FIGURES EXCHANGED

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until early-February to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators during hearings.

SPRING TRAINING REPORTING DATES

Mets pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Feb. 17, followed by position players on Feb. 22.

Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Feb. 15, followed by position players on Feb. 21.

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