The 2020 Major League Baseball season is nearly at an end after a whirlwind year.
The Dodgers and Rays are the final two teams standing, but the rest of the league is now gearing up for an offseason filled with question marks and uncertainties heading into 2021.
While there’s no telling what kind of player movement will result following an unprecedented 2020 season, the timeline of important dates and deadlines can still help paint a picture of what fans and executives can expect over the coming months.
Here now we’ll take a look at the important dates of note for MLB clubs this offseason.
Day after World Series = Offseason officially begins
Player contracts officially expire, however those hitting free agency must wait five days to officially sign with their respective clubs for the following season. During this time period, teams have an exclusive window to negotiate with players from their 2020 rosters before they hit the open market. For the Yankees, this year’s notable free-agents-to-be include DJ LeMahieu, Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and J.A. Happ. Additionally, trades involving players under MLB contract can also resume at this time.
Five days after World Series = Free agency officially begins
This marks the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers and to exercise contract options. Yankees players with options for 2021 include Brett Gardner ($10 million club option, $2.5 million buyout) and Giancarlo Stanton (can opt out of remaining seven years $218 million). The MLB qualifying offer amount this season is set for $18.9 million, determined by calculating the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in baseball.
Fifteen days after World Series = Qualifying offer deadline
All players who receive a qualifying offer must accept or reject it by this point. If players accept, they agree to a one-year deal worth $18.9 million. If they reject, they become free agents and their previous team receives a compensatory draft pick. More information on qualifying offers and draft pick compensation can be found here.
November 9-12 = BBWAA announces 2020 MLB award winners
Baseball’s annual awards will be announced starting Nov. 9 for Rookies of the Year, followed by Managers of the Year on Nov. 10, Cy Young Award winners on Nov. 11, and MVP Award winners on Nov. 12.
November 20 = Rule 5 roster protection deadline
The MLB Rule 5 Draft is an annual opportunity for teams to acquire non-40-man rostered players from across the league. Last year the Yankees added seven players to their Major League roster to protect them from Rule 5 selection, and saw five prospects get selected by other clubs. Teams may only make selections if they have openings on their 40-man roster, and after the Yankees’ addition of those seven players mentioned, they were not in a position to make any Rule 5 selections. This year’s Rule 5 Draft is set to take place Dec. 10, the last day of MLB’s Winter Meetings.
December 2 = Deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players contracts
Teams must decide by this date whether they will choose to non-tender any players on the 40-man roster for the 2021 season. Players who become non-tendered subsequently hit free agency. Last year, the Yankees tendered contracts to all players on their 40-man roster. Per MLB.com’s online glossary definition, “a club will non-tender a player because it feels the raise he will receive in arbitration would be greater than his on-field value. In other cases, a club will non-tender a player simply to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.”
December 7-10 = Winter Meetings in Dallas
While the COVID-19 pandemic might prevent this offseason’s winter meetings to be held in person, this time period allows executives and general managers to discuss potential deals and negotiate terms for trades and other acquisitions.
January 15 = Arbitration exchange deadline
By this point, players with at least three but less than six years of MLB service time are eligible for salary arbitration if they do not already have a contract in place for the 2021 season. If players and teams disagree on a salary figure for next year by this date, then they will undergo salary arbitration to be heard by a group of independent arbitrators who will ultimately determine the player’s salary. Those hearings begin on Feb. 1, 2021.
February 17 = New York Yankees pitchers and catchers report
February 22 = New York Yankees position players report
February 27 = Spring Training games officially begin
The Yankees will host the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Check out the full schedule of games here.
April 1 = MLB Opening Day 2021
Play ball!
