Interesting Dates to Keep In Mind

Doing some light reading this morning I ended up at Cot's Baseball Contracts. There's some very interesting stuff in this website about player, manager and front office contracts. Also, he's published a timeline of important off-season dates, which I'll excerpt from here.

Close of 2008 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. CBA, Article XX (B).

4th day after 2008 World Series--Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2009 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).

16th day after 2008 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 3-6, 2008--General managers' meetings, Dana Point, California.

November 10, 2008--End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2008, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).

November 11, 2008--Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2008 - February 15, 2008). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2008, remain in effect until February 15, 2009. Exception: special waivers.

November 20, 2008--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, 2008--Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.

December 7, 2008--Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.

December 8, 2008--Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.

December 8-11, 2008--Winter Meetings, Las Vegas.

December 11, 2008--Rule 5 Draft.

December 12, 2008--Last date (midnight EST) to tender 2009 contracts to unsigned players.

January 5-15, 2009--Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).

January 19 or 20, 2009--Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Committee and MLB Players Association.

February 1-21, 2009--Salary arbitration hearings, Phoenix. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).

February 14, 2009--Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers & injured players (moved up from Feb. 20 for WBC). CBA, Article XIV (A).

February 15, 2009--End of waiver period (November 11 – February 15). Waivers secured on or after November 11, 2008, expire at 5 p.m. EST.

February 16, 2009--Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – May 4). Outright waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, May 4, 2009 (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, 2009. Exception: special waivers. MLR 10 (f).

February 17, 2009--Voluntary reporting date for other players (moved up from Feb. 25 for WBC).

February 22, 2009--Mandatory reporting date. CBA, Article XIV (A) (moved up from March 5 for WBC).

March 2-11, 2009--Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.

March 15, 2009--Last day to trade a player who has exercised his right to demand a trade before he is declared an unrestricted free agent. (A player has the right to demand a trade if he signed a multi-year contract before October 23, 2006, then was subsequently traded.)

March 18, 2009--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.)

April 1, 2009--Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2009 salary. (Only 45 days’ termination pay is due.) CBA, Article IX (B).

April 5, 2009--Official opening of 2009 season. All clubs must reduce their active rosters to 25 players before April 5, 2009.

May 4, 2009--End of waiver period (February 16 – May 4). Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST.

May 5, 2009--Beginning of new waiver period (May 5 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 5 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After May 5, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.

May 15, 2009--Earliest date a club may re-sign a player it unconditionally released between midnight Aug. 31, 2008 and April 5, 2009. MLR 8 (i) (2).

June, 2009--First Year Player Draft. MLR 4.

June 16, 2009--First day a club may trade a player who was signed after the expiration of the 15-day free agency election period. A Club may assign the contract prior to this date for other player contracts and/or a cash consideration of no more than $50,000 if the player gives his written consent. CBA, Article XX (B) (6).

July 14, 2009--All Star Game, Busch Stadium, St. Louis.

July 31, 2009--Deadline (4 p.m. EST) for trading players without waivers in effect. MLR 10 (b)(1). End of waiver period (May 5 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 5, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST. Major League Waivers in effect between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST may only be used for optional assignments.

August 1, 2009--Beginning of new waiver period (August 1 – October 4). Trade waivers secured on or after August 1, 2009, remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST, October 4, 2009 (the last day of the 2009 season). Outright waivers secured on or after August 1, 2009, remain in effect until midnight EST, August 31, 2009. MLR 10(c)(4)(iv). Players may be traded only after Major League waivers have been secured in the current waiver period. MLR 10 (b) (1).

August 15, 2009--Last date (midnight EST) to sign players selected in June Rule 4 Draft, except for college seniors, who may sign at any time.Last date to bring player up for "full trial" to avoid draft-excluded status.MLR 6 (e).

August 31, 2009--Post-season eligibility lists are established at midnight. MLR 40. To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team on Aug. 31 and must remain a bona fide member until the end of the applicable post-season series. Any player unconditionally released between midnight August 31, 2008, and Opening Day of the 2009 season may not be re-signed to a Major League contract by the releasing club until May 15, 2009. MLR 8 (i) (2).

September 1, 2009--Active Major League rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.

October 4, 2009--Close of the 2008 regular season.

December 7-10, 2009--Winter Meetings, Indianapolis.