Key Dates:
Oct. 22: 101st World Series Begins
Day following conclusion of the WS: For next 15 days eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade
November 7-11: GM Meetings in Indian Wells, CA
November 10: Waivers secured on/after Aug. 1, 2005, expire at 5:00 p.m. ET
November 11: New waiver period begins. Waivers (exclusive of Special waivers) secured today and after shall be in effect until February 15, 2006
November 18: Day to file reserve lists for all Minor League levels and Major Leagues (In other words, all players must be removed from the Disabled List or any other similar inactive lists.) Today is also the last day to protect a player from the Rule V Draft. Any player signed out of high school who has completed four full professional seasons or any player signed out of college who has completed three is subject to being lost to the Rule 5 draft if not on a 40-man roster.
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 5-8: Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX
December 7: Last date for former club of player who declared free agency under Art. XX (B) to offer salary arbitration. If Club does not offer, then it loses all rights to negotiate with and sign the free agent until May 1st of the next season
Dec. 8- Major League Rule V Draft
Dec. 19: Last date for player, who declared free agency under Art. XX (B), to accept an arbitration offer of former club. If player rejects offer to go to arbitration, his former club may still negotiate with and sign him until January 8th of next season
Dec. 20: Last date to tender contracts for 2006 season to unsigned players
Jan. 5-15: Salary arbitration filing period
Jan. 8: Last day until May 1 for free agents who rejected arbitration offers to re-sign with their former teams
Jan. 18: Exchange of salary arbitration figures
Feb. 1-21: Salary Arbitration hearings