MLR = Major League Rule
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players association
October 28 – November 5, 2022
118th World Series
First Day after World Series, 2022
Trading resumes, eligible players become free agents (9 a.m. ET), starting five-day exclusive negotiating period between eligible players and their former clubs.
November 8-10, 2022
General Manager meetings, Las Vegas.
Fifth Day after World Series, 2022
Deadline for clubs and players to exercise or decline contract options for the 2023 season.
Final day for a club to make a Qualifying Offer to an eligible former player becoming an Article XX (B) free agent (5 p.m. ET).
Free agency begins. Eligible players may negotiate or sign with any club.
Fifteenth Day after World Series, 2022
Last date for Article XX (B) free agents to accept a Qualifying Offer from a former club.
November 15, 2022
Deadline for clubs to file reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels. Clubs must add eligible minor leaguer players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.
November 16-17, 2022
Owners meetings, New York.
November 18, 2022
“Non-tender” deadline. Last date for clubs to offer 2023 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. Players not tendered a contract immediately become free agents.
December 5-7, 2022
Winter Meetings, San Diego.
December 7, 2022
Rule 5 Draft, San Diego.
December 15, 2022
International amateur signing period closes (5 p.m. ET).
January, 2023
Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (E)(2).
January 13, 2023
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Department and MLB Players Association. CBA, Article VI (E) (2).
January 15, 2023
International signing period opens (9 a.m. ET).
January 30 – February 17, 2023
Salary arbitration hearings, St. Petersburg, Fla.
February 13, 2023
Mandatory reporting date for pitchers and catchers participating in the World Baseball Classic.
February 15, 2023
Voluntary reporting date for other pitchers and catchers, and injured players.
End of waiver period (Nov. 11, 2022 – Feb. 15, 2023). Outright Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2022, expire at 1 p.m. ET on the seventh day after waivers are obtained or 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 15, 2023, whichever is earlier.
February 16, 2023
Mandatory reporting date for other players participating in the World Baseball Classic.
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 28, 2023). Outright Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2022, remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 28, 2023 (the 30th day of the 2023 season), whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
February 20, 2023
Voluntary reporting date for other players.
February 25, 2023
Mandatory reporting date.
March 2-11, 2023
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned Major League players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.
March 5, 2023
First day clubs may request waivers on selected Rule 5 or draft-excluded players.
March 8-21, 2023
World Baseball Classic.
March 10, 2023
First day clubs may assign draft-excluded players.
March 13, 2023
Last day to request Unconditional Release Waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay (before 2 p.m. ET). CBA, Article IX(B).
March 14-28, 2023
Window to request Unconditional Release Waivers and pay 45 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX(B).
March 20, 2023
Last day XX(B) free agent signed to a minor-league contract may opt out of contract.
March 25, 2023
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 26, 2023
Earliest date a club may backdate placement of a player on 7-day Major League concussion Injured List. MLR 2(g).
March 27, 2023
Earliest date a club may backdate placement of a player on 10-day Major League Injured List. MLR 2(g).
March 30, 2023
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 31, 2023
Triple-A Opening Day. Domestic Reserve List limit reduced to 180.
April 2, 2023
First date a player placed on Major League 7-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
April 6, 2023
First date a player placed on Major League 10-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
April 9, 2023
First date a player optioned to minors during Spring Training may be recalled (11th day of season).
April 11, 2023
First date a player placed on Major League 15-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
April 14, 2023
First date pitchers optioned to minors may be recalled. MLR 2(g).
April 28, 2023
End of waiver period (February 16 – April 28). Outright Waivers obtained on or after Feb. 16, 2023, 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 28, 2023, the 30th day of the season. MLR 10(c)(4)(C)(ii).
April 29, 2023
Beginning of new waiver period (April 29 – July 31). Outright Waivers secured on or after April 29 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After April 29, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.
May 1, 2023
XX(B) minor league player may require release if not added to active Major League roster.
May 15, 2023
Earliest date a club may re-sign a player unconditionally released by the club after Aug. 31, 2022. MLR 8(i)(2).
May 29, 2023
First date a player placed on Major League 60-day Injured List during Spring Training may be activated. MLR 2(g).
June 1, 2023
XX(B) minor league player may require release if not added to active Major League roster.
June 15, 2023
First date a club may trade a player signed as a XX(B) player without his consent.
June 19-25, 2023
MLB Draft Combine.
July 2, 2023
Start of Closed Period for 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
July 8, 2023
All Star Futures Game, Seattle.
July 9-11, 2023
First-Year Player Draft, Seattle.
July 11, 2023
All-Star Game, Seattle.
July 25, 2023
Deadline (5 p.m. ET) to sign players selected in 2023 First-Year Player Draft.
August 1, 2023
Trade deadline (6 p.m. ET).
August 15, 2023
Last day to select a player to avoid draft-excluded status.
August 30, 2023
Unconditional release waivers must be requested by 2 p.m. ET to avoid May 15, 2024 signing restriction.
August 31, 2023
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, 2023
Active player limit increased from 26 to 28 and 14 pitchers.
September 8 – October 1, 2023
Players optioned to minors during this window earn Major League service time while on optional assignment.
October 1, 2023
Final scheduled day of 2023 regular season.
October 2, 2023
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.
October 2-15+, 2023
Article XX(D) Free Agency period. (For clubs in the post-season, window begins 48 hours after their last game.)
October 3, 2023
Post-season begins.
October 27 – November 4, 2023
119th World Series.
First Day after World Series, 2023
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.
Fourth Day after World Series, 2023
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until spring 2024.
Fifth Day after World Series, 2023
Deadline for clubs and players to exercise or decline contract options for the 2024 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 1, 2023
Deadline for 2024 International Player Registration Period.
November 7-9, 2023
General Manager meetings, Scottsdale, Ari.
November 10, 2023
Last date to request Outright Waivers on an injured player.
November 14, 2023
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 17, 2023
Deadline for clubs to offer 2024 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.
November 29, 2023
Last date to request Outright Waivers to assign player before the 2023 Rule 5 Draft.
December 1, 2023
Competitive Balance Selections assigned.
Release of 2024 Registered Players List.
December 3, 2023
Last date to outright a player before the 2023 Rule 5 Draft.
December 3-6, 2023
Winter Meetings, Nashville, Tenn.
December 5, 2023
2024 MLB Draft Lottery.
December 6, 2023
2023 Rule 5 Draft, Nashville, Tenn.
December 15, 2023
International signing period closes.