What Are The 2023 MLB Offseason Dates & Rules

Even though the World Series ended just two days ago, the formal start of the MLB offseason has brought all 30 clubs back to work.

After the Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5, all attention turned to Thursday morning at 12:00 AM EST, when MLB free agency officially opened.

The only teams that unrestricted players without a contract for 2024 may negotiate with are those that they last played for in 2023.

Everything you need to know about future days of interest, the MLB offseason, and much more is provided here!

MLB Offseason Schedule

  • Five days after the World Series ends – MLB free agency begins
  • Five days after the World Series ends – Player and team options must be exercised or declined
  • November 17th – Non-tender deadline
  • December 6th – Rule 5 Draft
  • Mid-February – Spring Training begins

When does free agency begin?

Officially, the day following the World Series end, players become free agents. They have to wait five days after the World Series to sign with a new team, though. Therefore, while clubs are allowed to contact player representatives, the five-day window is the only time during which teams are able to keep their leaving free players. This is often a time of relatively little activity.

When can MLB teams make trades?

Trades involving players who have Major League contracts are not permitted between the Trade Deadline and the World Series’ completion. The day following the World Series championship game, the trading market reopens.

What is the deadline for players and teams to pick up options for 2024?

within five days following the World Series’ end.

What is the deadline for offering, accepting or rejecting a qualifying offer?

Teams can give their free players a qualifying offer as late as five days following the World Series.

After receiving the offer, the players have until November 14 at 4 p.m. ET to choose whether or not to accept it. If they reject it, they are immediately eligible to sign with another team.

What is a contract option?

A player contract option is a possible extension that is discussed and agreed upon at the time of signing. Should the option not be used, the player’s status changes to free agency.

When an option is referred to as a “club option,” the team has complete control over whether it is exercised. This kind of option frequently comes with a buyout clause, which requires the club to give the player a pre-arranged portion of the option year’s value if it is not exercised. Therefore, the team may pay the buyout and let the player become a free agent if it determines that the player’s performance will not justify the option’s value.

The “player option” is an additional type of choice where the  player is the one who determines whether to exercise the option year.

A “mutual option” can only be used if both the player and the team approve of it.

An option that only becomes guaranteed upon the player meeting specific predetermined statistical standards during the preceding season is known as a “vesting option.” (Usually, they are determined by games played, games completed, innings, and plate appearances.)

A qualifying offer is what?

Teams can earn Draft-pick compensation when a free agent contracts with another club by making a qualifying offer.

Only teams who have extended a qualifying offer to a free agent are eligible to earn compensation; these offers are only available to players who have never before received one and who have been a member of the club for the full season (i.e., not acquired by trade in the middle of the season).

The qualifying offer is a one-year offer valued at $20.325 million, which is the mean pay of the 125 highest-paid players in Major League Baseball.

The amount during the 2022–2023 offseason was $19.65 million; this varies annually. Offers had to be given to qualified players this year within five days of the World Series ending, and players have until November 14 at 4 p.m. ET to accept or reject them.

 

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