Here’s your offseason schedule for transaction deadlines, meetings, award selections, and all of the offseason’s key dates
With the World Series set to kick off this weekend in Los Angeles, it’s nearly time to enter the baseball hibernation months. Here are some of the key dates to remember as the offseason kicks off on or before November 3, which is the day of a potential World Series Game 7.
Free Agency & Options
Free agency begins as soon as the World Series ends for any players with six or more years of MLB service time who are not under contract beyond 2024. Negotiations begin immediately but players cannot sign with a new team until five days after the World Series.
Likewise, contract options are typically exercised (or not) within five days of the end of the World Series.
For the Brewers, impending free agents and options include:
- Frankie Montas ($20 million mutual option)
- Rhys Hoskins ($18 million player option, with $4 million buyout if he opts out)
- Wade Miley ($12 million mutual option)
- Devin Williams ($10.5 million club option)
- Freddy Peralta ($8 million club option)
- Colin Rea ($5.5 million club option)
- Gary Sánchez ($4 million mutual option)
- Willy Adames (free agent)
- Joe Ross (free agent)
60-Day Injured List Activations
As it stands now, the Brewers’ 40-man roster sits at 39 players. With Ross and Adames hitting free agency, that leaves the roster at 37 players with seven players currently on the 60-day injured list, including Christian Yelich, Oliver Dunn, Rob Zastryzny, Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley (reminder – mutual option), Robert Gasser, and J.B. Bukauskas. Miley aside, the Brewers would need to free up at least three 40-man spots to keep those other six on the 40-man roster immediately after the season ends. That means the team will likely make some depth cuts, such as reliever Tyler Jay, infielder Vinny Capra, and outfielders Isaac Collins and Brewer Hicklen.
Minor League Free Agency
This is the point where the Brewers could add any players eligible for minor league free agency to the 40-man roster and/or to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Players who have been released from their original pro contracts or with six full years of minor league service can opt for free agency if they aren’t on the 40-man roster. They can also opt to sign a new minor league deal to remain in the organization.
The big name who fit the case of protection from Rule 5 last season was catcher Jeferson Quero, who ended up missing the whole season after an injury in his Triple-A debut on opening day.
As a reminder, to prevent players from becoming eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, organizations must add players who signed at age 18 or younger to their club’s 40-man roster within five seasons and players who signed at age 19 or older to their club’s 40-man roster within four seasons.
Qualifying Offers
Willy Adames is arguably the biggest name among MLB players eligible for the qualifying offer this offseason, meaning he won’t sign it. The value is set at $21.05 million for 2025 (calculated based on the average salary of the league’s 125 highest-paid players), and Adames’ free agency market is probably set closer to $30-plus million/year.
Last season, seven players received qualifying offers (20.33 million) and all of them rejected it, including Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Josh Hader, Sonny Gray, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Shohei Ohtani.
Award Dates
- October 26: MLB Players Choice Award
- October 28: Roberto Clemente Award
- November 3: Gold Glove Awards
- November 4: BBWAA Finalists
- November 11: Rookie of the Year Awards
- November 12: Silver Slugger Awards
- November 12: Manager of the Year Awards
- November 13: Cy Young Awards
- November 14: Hank Aaron Award Winners
- November 14: All-MLB Awards
- November 14: MVP Awards
Other Key Offseason Dates
- November 4-7: General managers meetings (San Antonio, Texas)
- November 15: Deadline for placing prospects on the 40-man roster to prevent them from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft (see more details above).
- November 17: Last day for teams to offer 2024 contracts to arbitration-eligible unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. More familiarly known as the “non-tender deadline.” In 2023, the Brewers tendered contracts to Adames, Jake Bauers, Tyrone Taylor, Corbin Burnes, Adrian Houser, Hoby Milner, Joel Payamps, Williams, and Bryse Wilson. Rowdy Tellez, J.C. Mejía, and Brandon Woodruff were all non-tendered a year ago.
- November 19-21: Owners meetings (New York)
- November 22: Last day for teams to make qualifying offers.
- December 2-6: MLBPA executive board meetings (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- December 8-11: Winter meetings (Dallas, Texas)
The winter meetings include the MLB draft lottery, which will determine the first 18 picks of the 2025 draft. Since the Brewers made the postseason, they hold the No. 22 pick in 2025. The last day of the winter meetings also includes the Rule 5 Draft.
- December 15: 2024 international signing period closes (4 p.m. CT)
- January 9: Salary arbitration exchanges take place between players and teams
- January 15: 2025 international signing period opens (8 a.m. CT)
- January 27-February 14: Salary arbitration hearings (St. Petersburg, Florida)
2025 Season Dates
- February 14: Pitchers and catchers report
- February 22: Cactus League season begins; Brewers host Reds to begin spring training
- March 27: Brewers begin the season with a three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
- March 31: Brewers open up at home as they host the Kansas City Royals at American Family Field