MLR = Major League Rule
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players association
September 30, 2024
All players on optional assignment must be recalled.
All players on injured lists must be reinstated.
Players with minor-league contracts may be traded become Major League clubs.
September 30- October 15+, 2024
Article XX(D) Free Agency period. (For clubs in the post-season, window begins 48 hours after their last game.)
October 1, 2024
Post-season begins.
October 25 – November 2, 2024
120th World Series.
October 31, 2024
Eligible players become XX(B) free agents (9 a.m. ET), starting five-day Quiet Period, an exclusive negotiating window between free agents and their former clubs.
Trading between Major League clubs resumes.
November 1 – December 5, 2024
Window for Nippon Professional Baseball clubs to post players available to sign with MLB clubs.
November 1, 2024
Deadline for 2024 International Player Registration Period.
November 3, 2024
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until spring 2024.
November 4-7, 2024
General managers meetings, San Antonio, Texas.
November 4, 2024
Deadline for clubs and players to exercise or decline contract options for the 2025 season.
Deadline (5 p.m. ET) for a club to make a Qualifying Offer to an eligible former player becoming an Article XX(B) free agent.
Free Agency Quiet Period ends. Eligible XX(B) players may negotiate or sign with any club.
Last date to outright potential Minor League free agent without a Major League contract.
Domestic Minor League Player Limit increases to 190 players.
Minor League players become free agents (5 p.m. ET).
All players on the 60-day Injured List (Major and Minor) and Full-Season Injured Lists must be reinstated.
November 10, 2024
Last date to request Outright Waivers on an injured player.
November 19-21, 2024
Owners meetings, New York.
November 19, 2024
Deadline (4 p.m. ET) for an Article XX(B) free agent to accept a Qualifying Offer from his former club.
Deadline (6 p.m. ET) for clubs to file reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels. (Transactions must be filed by 5:30 p.m. ET).
Last date to outright an injured player to the minor leagues.
November 22, 2024
Deadline for clubs to offer 2025 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.
November, 2024
Last date to request Outright Waivers to assign player before the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
December 1, 2024
Competitive Balance Selections assigned.
Release of 2024 Registered Players List.
December 2024
Last date to outright a player before the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
December 8-11, 2024
Winter Meetings, Dallas.
December 2024
2024 MLB Draft Lottery.
December 11, 2024
2024 Rule 5 Draft.
December 15, 2024
International signing period closes, 5 p.m. ET.
January 9, 2025
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Department and MLB Players Association. CBA, Article VI (E) (2) (8 p.m. ET).
January 15, 2025
International signing period opens (9 a.m. ET).
January 27 – February 14, 2025
Salary arbitration hearings, St. Petersburg, Fla.
February 12, 2025
Voluntary reporting date for other pitchers and catchers, and injured players (earlier date for Cubs, Dodgers TBA).
February 15, 2024
End of waiver period (Nov. 11, 2024 – Feb. 15, 2025). Outright Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2024, expire at 1 p.m. ET on the seventh day after waivers are obtained or 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 15, 2025, whichever is earlier.
February 16, 2025
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 25, 2024). Outright Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2022, remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 25, 2024 (the 30th day of the 2025 season), whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
February 17, 2025
Voluntary reporting date for other players (earlier date for Cubs, Dodgers TBA).
February 22, 2025
Mandatory reporting date.
March 2-11, 2025
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned Major League players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.
March, 2025
First day clubs may request waivers on selected Rule 5 or draft-excluded players.
March, 2025
First day clubs may assign draft-excluded players.
March 9, 2025
Last day to request Unconditional Release Waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay (before 2 p.m. ET). CBA, Article IX(B).
March 25, 2025
Last day to request Unconditional Release Waivers and pay only 45 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX(B).
March, 2025 (est.)
Last day XX(B) free agent signed to a minor-league contract may opt out of contract.
March 22, 2025
XX(B) free agent signed to a minor-league contract may request release if his club has not agreed to add him to the 26-man roster.
March 23, 2025
Earliest date a club may backdate placement of a player on 7-day Major League concussion Injured List. MLR 2(g).
March 24, 2025
Earliest date a club may backdate placement of a player on 10-day Major League Injured List. MLR 2(g).
March 27, 2025
Opening Day. Clubs must reduce active rosters to 26 players (13 pitchers) by noon ET.
Optional assignments begin to count toward the annual option limit of five.
March 28, 2025 (est.)
Triple-A Opening Day. Domestic Reserve List limit reduced to 180.
March 30, 2025
First date a player placed on Major League 7-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
April 3, 2025
First date a player placed on Major League 10-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
April 6, 2025
First date a player optioned to minors during Spring Training may be recalled (11th day of season).
April 9, 2025
First date a player placed on Major League 15-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated inflatable bumper ball. MLR 2(g).
April 11, 2025
First date pitchers optioned to minors may be recalled. MLR 2(g).
April 25, 2025
End of waiver period (February 16 – April 25). Outright Waivers obtained on or after Feb. 16, 2024, remain in effect until 1 p.m. ET on the seventh day after the date they were obtained, or until 5 p.m. ET on April 25, 2024, the 30th day of the season. MLR 10(c)(4)(C)(ii).
April 26, 2025
Beginning of new waiver period (April 26 – July 31). Outright Waivers secured on or after April 26 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After April 26, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.
May 1, 2025
XX(B) minor league player may require release if not added to active Major League roster.
May 15, 2025
Earliest date a club may re-sign a player unconditionally released by the club after Aug. 31, 2022. MLR 8(i)(2).
May 26, 2025
First date a player placed on Major League 60-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
June 1, 2025
XX(B) minor league player may require release if not added to active Major League roster.
June 15, 2025
First date a club may trade a player signed as a XX(B) player without his consent.
June 2025
MLB Draft Combine.
July 2025
Start of Closed Period for 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
July 13-15, 2025
Amateur draft, Atlanta.
July 15, 2025
All-Star Game, Atlanta.
July TBA, 2025
Deadline (5 p.m. ET) to sign players selected in 2024 First-Year Player Draft.
Trade deadline (6 p.m. ET).
August 15, 2024
Last day to select a player to avoid draft-excluded status.
August 30, 2025
Unconditional release waivers must be requested by 2 p.m. ET to avoid May 15, 2026 signing restriction.
August 31, 2025
Postseason eligibility lists established (11:59 p.m. ET). To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team August 31 and remain a bona fide member through end of the applicable Postseason series.
September 1, 2025
Active player limit increased from 26 to 28 and 14 pitchers.
September 7 – 28, 2025
Players optioned to minors during this window earn Major League service time while on optional assignment.
September 28, 2025
Final scheduled day of 2025 regular season.
November TBA, 2025
Last day for a club to make a qualifying offer to an eligible former player who became a free agent after the World Series.
November TBA, 2025
Last day (4 p.m. ET) for a player to accept a qualifying offer.
November TBA, 2025
Last day for clubs to offer 2026 contracts to unsigned players on 40-man roster.
December 7-10, 2025
Winter meetings, Orlando.
December 10, 2025
Rule 5 draft, Orlando.
December 15, 2025
International signing period closes (5 p.m. ET).