Important Transaction Dates
MLR = Major League Rule
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union.
October 5, 2009
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).
First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.
Close of 2009 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends. CBA, Article XX (B).
4th day after 2009 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2010 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).
16th day after 2009 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).
November 9-11, 2009
General managers' meetings, Chicago.
November 10, 2009
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).
November 11, 2009
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2009 - February 15, 2010). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2009, remain in effect until February 15, 2010. Exception: outright waivers.
November 20, 2009
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.
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 1, 2009
Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.
December 7, 2009
Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.
December 8, 2009
Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
December 7-10, 2009
Winter Meetings, Indianapolis.
December 10, 2009
Rule 5 Draft.
December 12, 2009
Deadline for clubs to offer 2010 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10(a) of Uniform Player Contract.
January 5-15, 2010
Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
January 19, 2010
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Committee and MLB Players Association.
February 1-21, 2010
Salary arbitration hearings. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
February 15, 2010
End of waiver period (November 11 – February 15). Waivers secured on or after November 11, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
February 16, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – May 3). Outright waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, May 3, 2010 (the 30th day of the season), whichever is earlier. Optional waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST May 3, 2010, whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
February 18, 2010
Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players.
February 23, 2010
Voluntary reporting date for all other players.
March 2, 2010
Mandatory reporting date.
March 2-11, 2010
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.
March 15, 2010
Last day to trade a player who has exercised his right to demand a trade before he is declared an unrestricted free agent. (A player has the right to demand a trade if he signed a multi-year contract before October 23, 2006, then was subsequently traded.)
March 17, 2010
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX (B). (For split contracts, the Major League rate of termination pay is owed if Unconditional Release waivers are requested after 2 p.m. EST. However, the requirement for split contract termination pay does not apply for players who may not be assigned to the minor leagues without their consent and for players selected in the preceding Rule 5 draft.)
March 31, 2010
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2010 salary. (Only 45 days’ termination pay is due.) CBA, Article IX (B).
April 4, 2010
Official opening of 2010 season.
All clubs must reduce their active rosters to 25 players before April 4, 2010.
May 3, 2010
End of waiver period (February 16 – May 3). Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
May 4, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (May 4 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 4 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After May 4, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.
May 15, 2010
Earliest date a club may re-sign a player it unconditionally released between midnight Aug. 31, 2009 and April 4, 2010. MLR 8 (i) (2).
June 7-9, 2010
First Year Player Draft. MLR 4.
June 16, 2010
First day a club may trade a player who was signed after the expiration of the 15-day free agency election period. A Club may assign the contract prior to this date for other player contracts and/or a cash consideration of no more than $50,000 if the player gives his written consent. CBA, Article XX (B) (6).
July 13, 2010
All Star Game, Anaheim.
July 31, 2010
Deadline (4 p.m. EST) for trading players without waivers in effect. MLR 10 (b)(1).
End of waiver period (May 4 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 4, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST. Major League Waivers in effect between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST may only be used for optional assignments.
August 1, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (August 1 – October 4). Trade waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST, October 3, 2010 (the last day of the 2010 season). Outright waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, remain in effect until midnight EST, August 31, 2010. MLR 10(c)(4)(iv).
Players may be traded only after Major League waivers have been secured in the current waiver period. MLR 10 (b) (1).
August 15, 2010
Last date to bring player up for "full trial" to avoid draft-excluded status.
MLR 6 (e).
August 16, 2010
Last date (11:59 p.m. EST) to sign players selected in 2010 June Rule 4 Draft, except for college seniors, who may sign at any time, and players from independent leagues, who may sign any time until a week before the 2011 June Rule 4 Draft. (Aug. 15 deadline extended to next business day.)
August 31, 2010
Post-season eligibility lists are established at midnight. MLR 40. To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team on Aug. 31 and must remain a bona fide member until the end of the applicable post-season series.
Any player unconditionally released between midnight August 31, 2009, and Opening Day of the 2010 season may not be re-signed to a Major League contract by the releasing club until May 15, 2010. MLR 8 (i) (2).
September 1, 2010
Active Major League rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.
October 3, 2010
Close of the 2010 regular season.
October 4, 2010
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).
First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.
Close of 2010 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends. CBA, Article XX (B).
4th day after 2010 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2011 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).
16th day after 2010 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).
November 10, 2010
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).
November 11, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2009 - February 15, 2010). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2010, remain in effect until February 15, 2011. Exception: outright waivers.
November 20, 2010
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.
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 1, 2010
Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.
December 4-7, 2010
Winter Meetings, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
December 7, 2010
Rule 5 Draft.
December 7, 2010
Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.
December 8, 2010
Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
December 12, 2010
Deadline for clubs to offer 2010 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10(a) of Uniform Player Contract.
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union.
October 5, 2009
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).
First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.
Close of 2009 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends. CBA, Article XX (B).
4th day after 2009 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2010 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).
16th day after 2009 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).
November 9-11, 2009
General managers' meetings, Chicago.
November 10, 2009
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).
November 11, 2009
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2009 - February 15, 2010). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2009, remain in effect until February 15, 2010. Exception: outright waivers.
November 20, 2009
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.
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 1, 2009
Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.
December 7, 2009
Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.
December 8, 2009
Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
December 7-10, 2009
Winter Meetings, Indianapolis.
December 10, 2009
Rule 5 Draft.
December 12, 2009
Deadline for clubs to offer 2010 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10(a) of Uniform Player Contract.
January 5-15, 2010
Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
January 19, 2010
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Committee and MLB Players Association.
February 1-21, 2010
Salary arbitration hearings. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
February 15, 2010
End of waiver period (November 11 – February 15). Waivers secured on or after November 11, 2009, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
February 16, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – May 3). Outright waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, May 3, 2010 (the 30th day of the season), whichever is earlier. Optional waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST May 3, 2010, whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
February 18, 2010
Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players.
February 23, 2010
Voluntary reporting date for all other players.
March 2, 2010
Mandatory reporting date.
March 2-11, 2010
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.
March 15, 2010
Last day to trade a player who has exercised his right to demand a trade before he is declared an unrestricted free agent. (A player has the right to demand a trade if he signed a multi-year contract before October 23, 2006, then was subsequently traded.)
March 17, 2010
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX (B). (For split contracts, the Major League rate of termination pay is owed if Unconditional Release waivers are requested after 2 p.m. EST. However, the requirement for split contract termination pay does not apply for players who may not be assigned to the minor leagues without their consent and for players selected in the preceding Rule 5 draft.)
March 31, 2010
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2010 salary. (Only 45 days’ termination pay is due.) CBA, Article IX (B).
April 4, 2010
Official opening of 2010 season.
All clubs must reduce their active rosters to 25 players before April 4, 2010.
May 3, 2010
End of waiver period (February 16 – May 3). Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
May 4, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (May 4 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 4 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After May 4, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.
May 15, 2010
Earliest date a club may re-sign a player it unconditionally released between midnight Aug. 31, 2009 and April 4, 2010. MLR 8 (i) (2).
June 7-9, 2010
First Year Player Draft. MLR 4.
June 16, 2010
First day a club may trade a player who was signed after the expiration of the 15-day free agency election period. A Club may assign the contract prior to this date for other player contracts and/or a cash consideration of no more than $50,000 if the player gives his written consent. CBA, Article XX (B) (6).
July 13, 2010
All Star Game, Anaheim.
July 31, 2010
Deadline (4 p.m. EST) for trading players without waivers in effect. MLR 10 (b)(1).
End of waiver period (May 4 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after May 4, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST. Major League Waivers in effect between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST may only be used for optional assignments.
August 1, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (August 1 – October 4). Trade waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST, October 3, 2010 (the last day of the 2010 season). Outright waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, remain in effect until midnight EST, August 31, 2010. MLR 10(c)(4)(iv).
Players may be traded only after Major League waivers have been secured in the current waiver period. MLR 10 (b) (1).
August 15, 2010
Last date to bring player up for "full trial" to avoid draft-excluded status.
MLR 6 (e).
August 16, 2010
Last date (11:59 p.m. EST) to sign players selected in 2010 June Rule 4 Draft, except for college seniors, who may sign at any time, and players from independent leagues, who may sign any time until a week before the 2011 June Rule 4 Draft. (Aug. 15 deadline extended to next business day.)
August 31, 2010
Post-season eligibility lists are established at midnight. MLR 40. To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team on Aug. 31 and must remain a bona fide member until the end of the applicable post-season series.
Any player unconditionally released between midnight August 31, 2009, and Opening Day of the 2010 season may not be re-signed to a Major League contract by the releasing club until May 15, 2010. MLR 8 (i) (2).
September 1, 2010
Active Major League rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.
October 3, 2010
Close of the 2010 regular season.
October 4, 2010
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).
First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.
Close of 2010 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends. CBA, Article XX (B).
4th day after 2010 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2011 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).
16th day after 2010 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).
November 10, 2010
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2010, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).
November 11, 2010
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2009 - February 15, 2010). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2010, remain in effect until February 15, 2011. Exception: outright waivers.
November 20, 2010
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.
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 1, 2010
Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.
December 4-7, 2010
Winter Meetings, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
December 7, 2010
Rule 5 Draft.
December 7, 2010
Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.
December 8, 2010
Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
December 12, 2010
Deadline for clubs to offer 2010 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10(a) of Uniform Player Contract.
