Key Dates, Winter 2020-2021

[julio]

Important dates in the Winter 2020-2021 Hot Stove League calendar.

October 28, 2020, 9 am Eastern time: Eligible players become Free Agents, "Quiet Period" begins.
October 28 to November 1, 2020: "Quiet Period" - Former clubs of Free Agents may tender "Qualifying Offers."
November 1, 2020, 5 pm Eastern time: Last date for clubs to exercise options in player contracts.
November 1, 2020, 5 pm Eastern time: Minor League Uniform Player Contracts expire. Eligible minor leaguers become free agents.
November 1, 2020, 5 pm Eastern time: "Quiet Period" ends, Free Agents may sign with any club.
November 11, 2020, 5 pm Eastern time: Last date for Free Agents to accept Qualifying Offers.
CANCELLED November 2020: General Managers' meetings.
CANCELLED November 17-19, 2020: Owners' Meetings (will be virtual).
November 20, 2020: Major and Minor (all levels) Reserve Lists set.
December 2, 2020: Tender Deadline - last date to offer 2020 contracts to unsigned players.
December 3, 2020: Last date to request outright waivers to assign player before Rule 5 draft.
December 7, 2020, 5 pm: Last date to outright a player before Rule 5 draft.
CANCELLED December 6-10, 2020: Winter Meetings (will be virtual).
December 10, 2020: Rule 5 Draft.

January 15, 2021: Exchange of salary arbitration figures.
January 15, 2021: International amateur signing period opens.
February 1-19, 2021: Arbitration hearings, Scottsdale, AZ.

February 17, 2021: Voluntary Reporting Day for Pitchers and Catchers - the First Day of Spring.
April 1, 2021: Opening Day!

[zambonir]

February 17, 2021: Voluntary Reporting Day for Pitchers and Catchers - the First Day of Spring.
April 1, 2021: Opening Day!

We hope!

[LoneStarPhan]

I guess for now, we go on as if these key dates will still hold and that spring training 2021 will take place on time, even if many of the protocols put in place for summer camp 2020 continue in force.

We can hope that a successful vaccine is available by February 1st. If everyone associated with the spring camps could be inoculated by the opening, it might be a real positive for getting the 2021 season back close to normal.

[zambonir]

I don't think there's going to be anywhere near the level of certainly, let alone a fully ready and well-implemented vaccine, by February, or even April. But with or without a vaccine MLB will have to proceed with some degree of COVID protocols. Don't see how you can expect normal capacity at spring training games. The real issue to be settled is the length and starting date of the regular season, because it certainly wouldnt' make sense to bring everyone to camp if the season won't start until May 1. (That could happen for one of two reasons - safety, or the owners not wanting to play 162 games if they still can't sell enough tickets).

[bkox]

Baseball announces the cancellation of the owners meetings in Nov and the Winter Meetings in Dec.

The agendas will be conducted remotely, per release.

— Jesse Rogers ( @JesseRogersESPN ) October 30, 2020

[zambonir]

Yeah, that had jumped out at me in the original post too though in theory you could have had 30 owners in a large auditorium. But smaller meet-ups and socializing would have been unavoidable.

I wonder how virtual will affect the rhythms of the marketplace and rumor mill.

[LoneStarPhan]

Yes, not surprising to see these gatherings being called off. Some of the normal "work" of the meetings can be conducted remotely.

[julio]