Open Thread: Important Offseason Dates

Now that we’ve all recovered from the madness of the last five days (somewhat), let’s take a second to look ahead to the offseason. Here’s a roundup of the important dates you need to know about for the winter.

• November 9th-11th: GM Meetings in Chicago. Definitely not as exciting as the Winter Meetings, though you may see a deal or two get done.
• November 20th: Players who filed for free agency officially hit the open market. Prior to this date, they are only able to negotiate with their current team.
• December 1st: Last day for teams to offer their free agents arbitration. Any Type-A or Type-B free agents that sign with a new team before their old  team offered arbitration do bring back compensation draft picks.
• December 7th-10th: Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Total chaos.
• December 10th: Rule 5 Draft. Last year, players had to be added to the 40-man roster on November 20th to avoid being eligible, but I’m not sure what that date is this season.
• December 12th: Last day for teams to tender contracts to unsigned players, a.k.a. no-tender day. Could easily be Brian Bruney’s last day as a Yankee.
• January 5th-15th: Salary arbitration filing period.
• January 19th: Teams and players exchange salary figures for arbitration.
• February 1st-21st: Arbitration hearings.
• March 2nd-11th: Teams can renew the contracts of pre-arbitration eligible players (0-3 years of service time) if they have not yet accepted an offer. Teams can renew players for pretty much any salary they want, though most teams (Yankees included) have a scale they use that bases a player’s salary on service time.
• March 17th: Last day to put a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 30 days of termination pay. After this date, teams must pay 45 days worth of termination pay.
• March 31st: Last day to put a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 45 days of termination pay. After this date, teams must pay the player their full 2010 salary.
• April 4th: Opening Day, rosters must be cut down to 25 players.

So that’s that. Now if you have any questions about when a team has to offer a player arbitration or anything like that, you can always refer back to this post.

Anyway, use this as your open thread for the night. The Cowboys and Eagles are your late game, and there’s also some new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad on as well. Some say Seth MacFarlane is a one trick pony, but I still enjoy it. Anything goes, just be nice.