Off season calendar

[redsrbetter]

<H2>Important Transaction Dates

MLR = Major League Rule
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union.

October 1, 2007
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).

First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.

October 24, 2007
World Series opens.
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 24, AL city
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 23, AL city
Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 25, NL city
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 26, NL city
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 27, NL city (if necessary)
Game 6: Wednesday, Oct. 31, AL city (if necessary)
Game 7: Thursday, Nov. 1, AL city (if necessary)

Close of 2007 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends Nov. 11. CBA, Article XX (B).

4th day after 2007 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2008 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).

16th day after 2007 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).

November 5-8, 2007
General managers' meetings, Orlando.

November 10, 2007
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2006, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).

November 11, 2007
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2007 - February 15, 2008). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2007, remain in effect until February 15, 2008.
Exception: special waivers.

November 20, 2007
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.

Last date to make an off-season outright assignment of an injured player to the Minor Leagues if the player does not meet the requirements listed in Article XIX (C) (b) of the CBA.

December 1, 2007
Last day for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their former players who have filed for free agency. A club not offering arbitration may continue to negotiate with the player but does not receive compensation if he signs with another club.

December 3-6, 2007
Winter Meetings, Nashville.

December 6, 2007
Rule 5 Draft.

December 7, 2007
Last day for a free agent offered salary arbitration by his former club to accept or reject the offer. If player rejects the offer to go to arbitration, his former club may continue to negotiate with and sign him.

December 12, 2007
Last day for teams to offer 2008 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10 (a) of the Uniform Player Contract.

January 5-15, 2008
Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).

January 18, 2008
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Committee and MLB Players Association.

February 1-21, 2008
Salary arbitration hearings. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).

February 14, 2008
Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers & injured players.
CBA, Article XIV (A).

February 15, 2008
End of waiver period (November 11 – February 15). Waivers secured on or after November 11, 2007, expire at 5 p.m. EST.

February 16, 2008
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 28). Outright waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 28, 2008 (the 30th day of the season), whichever is earlier. Optional waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST April 28, 2008.
Exception: special waivers. MLR 10 (f).

February 19, 2008
Voluntary reporting date for other players.

February 26, 2008
Mandatory reporting date. CBA, Article XIV (A).

March 2-11, 2008
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.

March 12, 2008
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX (B). (For split contracts, the Major League rate of termination pay is owed if Unconditional Release waivers are requested after 2 p.m. EST. However, the requirement for split contract termination pay does not apply for players who may not be assigned to the minor leagues without their consent and for players selected in the preceding Rule 5 draft.)

March 26, 2008
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2007 salary. (Only 45 days’ termination pay is due.) CBA, Article IX (B).

March 30, 2008
Opening Day.
All clubs must reduce their active rosters to 25 players before March 30, 2008.

</H2>
Cot's Baseball Contracts: Important Transaction Dates

Just something to go by when looking for things to discuss this off season.

[DirtyKash]

are the winter meetings in Nashville for?

[777rak]

yea no kidding. Wouldn't it make better sense for the winter meetings to be somewhere where there is baseball team.

[brewersfan19]

Cause the Grand Ol' Opry is there, and hey, maybe the Predators are in town that weekend.