The current MLB collective bargaining agreement expires Dec 1 at 11:59 PM ET, and a lockout could start Dec 2. If the owners and players do not reach a new agreement, a lockout looks likely. It is not confirmed.
There is still plenty to follow before then. Here are the MLB offseason dates for 2026, what I’m watching at each stop, and why I would not count on the Winter Meetings to sort everything out.
With the World Series ending October 28, eligible players became free agents October 29. The full market opens November 2 at 5 PM ET; qualifying-offer decisions are due November 17 at 4 PM ET.
Free Agency Opens: Nov 2, 5 PM ET
The fifth day after the World Series is Nov 2. At 5 PM ET, the quiet period ends, the free-agent market opens fully, and players can sign with other teams.
It is also the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers. Contract-option decisions fall within the quiet period, although individual contracts may set earlier deadlines. The reported qualifying-offer value is $23.15 million.
It will be very interesting to see how many free agents sign right away. Securing a contract before a work stoppage allows players to lock in their market value under current Collective Bargaining Agreement rules while guaranteeing access to vital signing bonuses even if games are canceled. It also protects them from the chaotic, compressed free-agency scramble that occurs when a lockout lifts, a frantic period that often forces mid-tier players to accept below-market deals as supply outpaces remaining team payrolls. Furthermore, signing early ensures players have finalized medical evaluations and a clear roadmap for independent training in place before the league-mandated communication blackout with team personnel begins.
GM Meetings and Awards Week: Nov 10–12
The GM Meetings are scheduled for Nov 10–12 in Las Vegas. With the Winter Meetings in doubt, people will be paying closer attention to this than in previous years.
The BBWAA awards arrive throughout the same stretch:
Nov 9: Rookie of the Year.
Nov 10: Manager of the Year.
Nov 11: Cy Young.
Nov 12: MVP.
We’re doing our own MLB Awards, and we are inviting anyone to vote. Click here to do so!
Qualifying Offer Decisions: Nov 17, 4 PM ET
There are two qualifying-offer deadlines to keep straight. Teams make their offers by Nov 2 at 5 PM ET, the fifth day after the World Series. Players must decide by Nov 17 at 4 PM ET.
The November 17 acceptance deadline is fixed; it does not move with the World Series ending date.
Rule 5 Protection (Nov 17) and the Non-Tender Deadline (Nov 20)
The Rule 5 protection deadline is Nov 17. Teams protect eligible players by adding them to their 40-man rosters.
The possible cancellation of the draft does not make me any less interested in these decisions. The protection deadline arrives first, while teams still have to account for the possibility that the draft happens.
Then comes the Nov. 20 non-tender deadline. Players who are not tendered contracts become free agents.
Dec 1: When the CBA Expires and What a Lockout Freezes
The CBA expires Dec 1 at 11:59 PM ET. If there is no new agreement, owners are expected to impose a lockout that could begin Dec 2.
The expiration itself does not automatically start a lockout. That is a decision by the owners.
A lockout would be expected to freeze Major League signings, trades, and negotiations between clubs and covered players.
That is why I care about the order of this calendar. Teams have roster decisions to make before the CBA expires. Waiting could leave unfinished business sitting there until the sides reach an agreement.
The 2021–22 lockout ran from Dec 2 to Mar 10. The Winter Meetings were canceled, as was the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft.
I covered the broader questions in MLB Lockout 2026 Explained. For this guide, the point is simple: Dec 1 could become the practical cutoff for getting deals done before a stoppage.
Winter Meetings: Dec 7–9 Reported in San Diego, Schedule Unconfirmed
The Winter Meetings are reportedly set for Dec 7–9 in San Diego, but I haven't confirmed those dates against an official MLB schedule. A lockout could disrupt the meetings; cancellation is unconfirmed.
I would love to be wrong about this. The Winter Meetings are something I look forward to, and I would much rather cover that week than another round of statements from the owners and players.
For now, I would not build an offseason plan around the assumption that everyone gets to San Diego and starts making deals.
FAQ
When does MLB free agency start in 2026?
Eligible players became free agents Oct 29. The market opens fully Nov 2 at 5 PM ET, the fifth day after the World Series, when free agents can sign with other teams.
When is the qualifying offer deadline?
Teams must extend qualifying offers by Nov 2 at 5 PM ET. Players’ acceptance decisions are due Nov 17 at 4 PM ET.
What is the non-tender deadline?
The non-tender deadline is Nov 20. It is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to eligible players.
When does the MLB CBA expire?
The current CBA expires Dec 1 at 11:59 PM ET.
Will there be an MLB lockout in 2026?
A lockout looks likely, but it is not confirmed. If no agreement is reached and owners impose one, it could begin Dec 2.
Are the 2026 Winter Meetings canceled?
No cancellation has been confirmed. The reported dates are Dec 7–9 in San Diego, pending confirmation against an official MLB schedule. A lockout could disrupt the meetings.
Which move does your team need to make before Dec 1—and do you trust the front office to get it done?
Thank you for the timeline. As for what I think the Mets need to do before the lockout….sign a front line starter and sort out first base.