The 2026 Major League Baseball season concluded with the Milwaukee Brewers capturing their first World Series championship, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. With the season over, the 2026‑27 offseason is underway, but a potential work stoppage looms as the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, likely prompting an owners' lockout that could disrupt the offseason calendar and spring training.
Key offseason dates
Oct. 29: Players with at least six years of service time become free agents at 9 a.m. ET. A five‑day exclusive negotiating period begins, during which free agents may only discuss contracts with their most recent team. Trades involving 40‑man roster players also resume for the first time since the July trade deadline.
Nov. 1: Gold Glove Award winners are announced on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays each have five finalists.
Nov. 2: Deadline for most contract option decisions. Notable options include Michael King (opt‑out of two years, $58 million with the Padres), Bo Bichette (opt‑out of two years, $84 million with the Mets), and Luis Robert Jr. (Orioles hold a $20 million club option). Also the deadline for teams to extend the qualifying offer — a one‑year, $23.15 million contract — to eligible free agents. Randy Arozarena (Mariners) is a candidate; Tarik Skubal (Dodgers) is ineligible because he was traded mid‑season.
Nov. 2, 5 p.m. ET: The exclusive negotiating period ends; free agents may sign with any team.
Nov. 9‑12: Awards week on MLB Network at 7 p.m. ET daily: Rookies of the Year (Monday), Managers of the Year (Tuesday), Cy Young Awards (Wednesday), MVPs (Thursday). The All‑MLB Team, Comeback Players of the Year, and Relievers of the Year will be announced Nov. 11.
Nov. 10‑12: General managers meet in Las Vegas. While focused on rule changes, trades and signings often materialize.
Nov. 17: Silver Slugger Awards announced. Deadline for free agents to accept or reject the qualifying offer (4 p.m. ET). Deadline to file reserve lists (6 p.m. ET), protecting eligible minor leaguers from the Rule 5 Draft. Notable Rule 5‑eligible prospects include Dodgers right‑hander Christian Zazueta and Nationals right‑hander Travis Sykora.
Nov. 17‑19: Owners meetings in New York. With the CBA expiring Dec. 1, owners will likely strategize for labor negotiations.
Nov. 20: Non‑tender deadline for pre‑arbitration and arbitration‑eligible players. Players not offered contracts become free agents.
Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. ET: Collective bargaining agreement expires. A lockout is widely expected, halting all major‑league transactions.
Dates subject to change if lockout occurs
Early December: Competitive balance draft picks assigned (typically 14‑15 picks).
Dec. 6: Hall of Fame Classic Baseball Committee results announced on MLB Network.
Dec. 7‑9: Winter Meetings in San Diego — historically the busiest hot‑stove period. The 2021‑22 lockout canceled the Winter Meetings; a similar cancellation is possible.
Dec. 8: Draft lottery to determine the top six picks of the 2027 amateur draft. Odds for the No. 1 pick: Rockies, Angels, Athletics each 19.1%; Royals 11.6%; Mets 8.7%; Reds 6.4%; Tigers 4.5%; Mariners 3.1%; Nationals 2.1%; Twins 1.6%; Cardinals 1.3%; Blue Jays 1.0%; Orioles 0.9%; Marlins 0.7%; Rangers 0.6%; Diamondbacks 0.2%. Giants and Pirates are ineligible for the lottery.
Dec. 9: Rule 5 Draft. Players selected must remain on the major‑league roster all season or be offered back. The 2021‑22 lockout canceled the major‑league phase.
Jan. 8: Arbitration filing deadline for 2027 salary figures.
Jan. 15: International amateur signing period opens at 9 a.m. ET (non‑40‑man roster players). This period proceeded during the last lockout.
Jan. 19: 2027 Hall of Fame class announced. New ballot entrants include Jon Lester and Buster Posey; Omar Vizquel’s final year of eligibility; Alex Rodriguez (Year 6), Chase Utley (Year 4, 59.1% last year).
Late January‑February: Arbitration hearings for unresolved cases.
Mid‑February: Spring training camps open in Arizona and Florida. First exhibition games scheduled for Feb. 19. A lockout would delay the start.
March 24: Opening Night on Netflix (teams TBA); remaining 28 teams begin March 25. If the lockout extends into March, the regular season would be pushed back, as in 2022 when the season started a week late.
