Here are the key MLB dates to keep an eye on during the 2021-22 offseason...

NOV. 8: FREE AGENCY BEGINS

With the World Series ending on Nov. 2, free agency will begin on Nov. 8 following five days where players are only allowed to re-sign with their current team.

NOV. 9: GM MEETINGS BEGIN

The annual meeting of general managers is the first big event of the offseason. 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. 17: DEADLINE FOR PLAYERS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT QUALIFYING OFFER

Any player who received the one-year qualifying offer for $18.4 million has until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it. The deadline for teams to extend the offer is Nov. 7.

If a player accepts, he returns to his current team for the 2022 season.

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

For the Mets, Noah Syndergaard and Michael Conforto are their QO candidates.

The Yankees do not have any QO candidates.

NOV. 19: DEADLINE TO PROTECT ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS FROM RULE 5 DRAFT

Depending on age and service time rules, certain minor leaguers are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.

Any eligible player a team wishes to protect must be added to the 40-man roster before the deadline.

NOV. 30: 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.

This date was moved up to accommodate the impending work stoppage.

DEC. 6-9: MLB WINTER MEETINGS IN ORLANDO

The big event of the offseason, the Winter Meetings are expected to be in person this year after going virtual last year 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. 9: 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 26-man roster for the entire season or be forced to offer him back to the team he was selected from.

JAN. 14, 2022: 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 in February.

SPRING TRAINING

The Mets open spring training on Feb. 26 against the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees open spring training on Feb. 26 when the play split squad games with the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles.

Popular in the Community