The 2026 MLB season concluded with the Milwaukee Brewers winning their first World Series title, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. With the season over, the 2026-27 offseason is underway, highlighted by a series of critical dates and the looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 1, which could trigger a lockout.
Key dates include:
Oct. 29: Players with at least six years of service time become free agents at 9 a.m. ET, and trading resumes. A five-day exclusive negotiating period begins, during which free agents can only negotiate with their most recent team.
Nov. 1: Gold Glove winners announced at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Nov. 2: Deadline for contract option decisions (e.g., Michael King, Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr.). Also the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers (one-year, $23.15 million) to eligible free agents. Free agency officially opens at 5 p.m. ET after the exclusive period ends.
Nov. 9-12: Awards week (Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young, MVP) announced on MLB Network at 7 p.m. ET daily.
Nov. 10-12: General managers meetings in Las Vegas.
Nov. 17: Silver Slugger winners announced. Deadline for free agents to accept or reject qualifying offers (4 p.m. ET). Deadline to file reserve lists (6 p.m. ET) to protect minor leaguers from the Rule 5 Draft.
Nov. 17-19: Owners meetings in New York.
Nov. 20: Non-tender deadline for arbitration-eligible players.
Dec. 1: Collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET; owners expected to lock out players, halting all major league transactions.
Subsequent dates (marked with asterisks) are subject to change if a lockout occurs, including the Winter Meetings (Dec. 7-9 in San Diego), draft lottery (Dec. 8), Rule 5 Draft (Dec. 9), arbitration filing deadline (Jan. 8), international signing period opening (Jan. 15), Hall of Fame announcement (Jan. 19), arbitration hearings (late January-February), spring training (mid-February), and Opening Day (March 24).
