MLB Offseason Key Dates: Free Agency Start, Awards, and Potential Lockout Timeline

As the baseball world braces for a possible work stoppage, several critical dates loom on the MLB offseason calendar. Free agency is set to begin five days after the conclusion of the World Series, with the exact date depending on when the Fall Classic ends. Teams must decide whether to extend qualifying offers to eligible free agents, and players have a 10-day window to accept or reject them. Additionally, the annual GM meetings in early November will provide a forum for front offices to lay groundwork for trades and signings, even as labor uncertainty hangs over the sport. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, and if no new deal is reached, owners are widely expected to impose a lockout, freezing all transactions. Other notable dates include the deadline for teams to add eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, which is scheduled for December 8 if the offseason proceeds normally. Awards season also unfolds in November, with the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year winners announced. For fans and teams alike, the next few weeks will shape the 2022 season—or delay it.