Updated Nov 17th 2006 by Marlins2003

 

Major League Baseball Offseason Calendar 2006-07

From Brad Marchand,

Your Guide to Baseball.

FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!Some baseball fans may ask why we need an offseason calendar in Major League Baseball. The season is over, for crying out loud. What could we possibly need to know over the winter? An excellent question. Being an informed fan requires that you know what happens with your team and the important players during the winter months. To do so, you must first understand the baseball offseason calendar: what happens when, what does it mean, and why should you care? 2006 Baseball award announcements -- November 2-21: Here is the schedule of when the major baseball awards will be announced this year:

• American League Gold Glove winners - November 2
  
• National League Gold Glove winners - November 3
  
• National and American League Rookies of the Year - November 13
  
• National League Cy Young Award - November 14
  
• National and American League Manager of the Year - November 15
  
• American League Cy Young Award - November 16
  
• National League Most Valuable Player ? November 20
  
• American League Most Valuable Player ? November 21
  

Free agent filing period -- October 28-November 11: During this period, the players whose contracts have expired and who have achieved at least six years major league service time have the opportunity to file for free agency.

 

Note: Until November 12, no free agent can sign with a new team, nor can he discuss specific contract parameters. However, the free agent's former team has exclusive negotiating rights and he can re-sign with that team at any time.

• Which players are eligible for free agency this winter?
  

Free agent signing period begins -- November 12: Beginning on this date, players and teams can discuss money and begin making deals. Unless players re-sign with their former team, which they are free to do at any time, we normally don't see too many impact transactions in the first couple of weeks of the signing period. Players and their agents are feeling out the market and clubs are trying to determine which players they can afford. Some low to mid-level free agents may sign early, but the big deals won't happen until later.

 

Last day to offer arbitration to players who became free agents -- December 1: Teams can offer salary arbitration to their free agents by this date. By making the offer, two things can occur. First, the player can accept or decline. Second, just by offering arbitration the team assures itself of draft pick compensation if the player signs elsewhere. This date, which carries some risk for the offering club, is earlier than before because of the new collective bargaining agreement.

• What is salary arbitration?
  
• What risk does a team face in offering arbitration?
  

Baseball Winter Meetings, Orlando -- December 4-7: The Winter Meetings is baseball's annual offseason swap shop, when everyone who is anyone meet in one place and talk trade, sign free agents, and keep us all riveted for four days. With the new CBA and lots of teams with money to spend, the Winter Meetings could be a very happening place where a ton of cash is thrown at a decidedly mediocre crop of free agents.

 

Rule 5 Draft -- December 7: At the Winter Meetings, the 30 major league clubs take part in what is known as the Rule 5 Draft. We hear about it every year but most fans have no idea what it is. Essentially, teams can choose certain minor leaguers from other teams and keep them on their own major league roster all season. It's a way of allowing young players stuck in the minors in one organization to get a fresh start somewhere else.

• What is the Rule 5 Draft?
  

Last day for free agents offered arbitration to accept or decline -- December 7: A free agent offered arbitration by December 1 has until December 7 to accept or reject. If he accepts, he is considered signed and no longer a free agent. Either the two sides will agree on a contract or the player's salary will be determined by an arbitrator. If he rejects, he remains a free agent and must negotiate a new deal with his former club or a new one. This date has also been moved up.

• How might this new earlier date affect free agency?
  

Last day to tender contracts to players -- December 12: Players with more than three but fewer than six years service time must be offered a contract by this date. If they are, they remain property of that team. If not, they become non-tender free agents. This date has been moved up from December 20, meaning the "non-tenders" will join the regular free agent pool sooner and will compete with higher-priced players in the open market.

• What is a "non-tender" free agent?
  

Salary arbitration filing period -- January 5-15: All free agents who accepted their club's offer of arbitration, as well as the young players with between three and six years of service time, must file during this period to have their arbitration cases heard. Players and teams may continue to negotiate after filing.

 

 

Salary arbitration figures exchanged -- January 18

Players who have filed for arbitration will exchange salary proposals with their teams on this day. If the player doesn't settle before the hearing, the arbitrator will choose either the club's offer or the player's figure.

 

 

Salary arbitration hearings -- February 1-21

Those players who filed for arbitration and have not already agreed on new contracts will have their cases heard before an arbitrator during this three-week period. The arbitrator chooses one figure or the other and the decision is binding.

 

As the offseason progresses, you will undoubtedly hear references to these deadlines if you're paying attention at all. Now you know what they mean, and perhaps you've got something with which to impress your colleagues at the water cooler. But most importantly, this complicated series of events should tell you that baseball's offseason is anything but boring and lacking anything newsworthy. Follow along yourself. You'll see.

 

Hot stove league

 

Key dates in the 2006-07 baseball off-season:

 

? Nov. 13-17 ? General managers' meetings, Naples, Fla.

 

? Nov. 16 ? Owners' meeting, Chicago.

 

? Dec. 1 ? Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.

 

? Dec. 4-7 ? Winter meetings, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

 

? Dec. 4-8 ? Major League Baseball Players Association executive board meeting, Bonita Springs, Fla.

 

? Dec. 7 ? Last day for free agents offered salary arbitration to accept or reject the offers.

 

? Dec. 12 ? Last day for teams to offer 2007 contracts to unsigned players.

 

? Jan 5-15 ? Salary arbitration filing.

 

? Jan. 18 ? Exchange of salary arbitration figures.

 

? Feb. 1-21 ? Salary arbitration hearings.

 

? March 2-11 ? Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.

 

? March 14 ? Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.

 

? March 28 ? Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2007 salary.

 

? April 1 ? Opening day. Active rosters reduced to 25 players.

i notice two of meeting are at sw fl area

If anyone is interested we got a tentative date of December 14th from our new sales rep for the Season Ticket Holders Holiday Party. In the past we weren't notified until one or two days in advance so we called this year. He also said a definite date would be set and notices mailed out in about 2 weeks.

If anyone is interested we got a tentative date of December 14th from our new sales rep for the Season Ticket Holders Holiday Party. In the past we weren't notified until one or two days in advance so we called this year. He also said a definite date would be set and notices mailed out in about 2 weeks.

Thanks for the info! I was wondering about that and was going to call my rep. Last year was less of a "party" and more of a confrontation.

FanFest is set for the 10th. And according to the web site the same things (basicall) are being done. But I have heard rumors of a "wine and dine" type thing for season ticket holders. Anyone know anything?

FanFest is set for the 10th. And according to the web site the same things (basicall) are being done. But I have heard rumors of a "wine and dine" type thing for season ticket holders. Anyone know anything?

 

I havent heard anything of this but maybe when they mail out the little VIP things they'll have something attached for it if its true.. Just a thought

FanFest is set for the 10th. And according to the web site the same things (basicall) are being done. But I have heard rumors of a "wine and dine" type thing for season ticket holders. Anyone know anything?

 

I havent heard anything of this but maybe when they mail out the little VIP things they'll have something attached for it if its true.. Just a thought

 

More than likely you are right. I hope this year's seeming dedication to the season ticket holders continues. We never did get those VIP passes until after FanFest. We always have had to go to the booth and get ours. After we paid the parking fee of course. But so far this off season has been very different. About time.