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2021 MLB Offseason Dates Every Phillies Fan Should Know
With the World Series entering Game 2 tonight, many Philadelphia Phillies fans are wondering what is on the horizon for the team this offseason. Navigating MLB's winter and all the dates associated with it can get quite confusing.
Considering the Phillies have multiple players up for awards, are active in free agency, and have a plethora of arbitration cases to settle, dates are important.
The new collective bargaining agreement, or lack thereof, will likely predicate how quickly teams move in free agency and the types of contracts offered. So, even though these dates are set in stone, don't be surprised when there isn't a ton of early action.
Teams can start negotiating with free agents five days after the World Series ends. Prior to that period, the player's current team has exclusive rights to negotiate. Again, don't expect the stove to get too hot too quickly this winter.
Here are the specific dates Phillies fans will need to lookout for:
November 4: Silver Slugger Award Announced
Both Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto were named finalists for the award. Harper is seen as a favorite to win, but Realmuto will have a hard time beating out Buster Posey.
November 10: Cy Young Award Announced and Qualifying Offer Deadline
Zack Wheeler will be competing with Max Scherzer and Corbin Burnes for the award. Wheeler tossed the most amount of innings in the majors this season and could potentially see his name called for the award.
It is also the last day a player can accept a qualifying offer made by the Phillies. However, it seems incredibly unlikely for this to happen with Philadelphia.
November 18: MVP Award Announced
This should be a date that Phillies fans have circled on the calendar. Harper is the presumptive NL MVP after an incredible season. His biggest competition will be Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr.
November 19: Rule-5 Draft Deadline
This is the last day teams can place Rule-5 eligible players on the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the draft.
December 1: Non-Tender Deadline
Now, this is an important date for the Phillies. December 1 will be the day that they must decide if they will non-tender an arbitration eligible player. If non-tendered, they will become free agents. Players such as Zach Eflin, Odubel Herrera, and Andrew Knapp could be on the outs.
December 5-9: Winter Meetings
This year the MLB's Winter Meetings will be held in San Diego, Ca. This is a time when owners, front office members, and the media all gather. Franchises use this time to rub elbows and slide names and numbers on napkins across the bar top.
Considering the Phillies could be in the trade market, and the fact Dave Dombrowski is aggressive, this could be a very interesting few days for Philadelphia.
February 26: First Spring Training Game
So, now we have made it! Baseball is back and the Phillies are in Florida. They will play the New York Yankees to open up the spring.
March 31: Opening Day
The best day of the year. We have done it folks. We have made it all the way through the cold, dark winter. Philadelphia will travel to play the Houston Astros on Opening Day, when for the first time in a while, all 30 teams will be on deck and performing.
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