After a crazy Game 7 of the World Series, fans’ attention now turns to the MLB offseason. With that in mind, I wanted to do a bit of an offseason primer just to talk about some key dates. This tweet gives a good overview of some of the dates, but I’ll walk you through some of them.
It’s not listed here, but the trading market is actually open now. If Paul Toboni wanted to, he could make a trade right now. There are some big moves he could consider. On the MLB Trade Rumors trade board, MacKenzie Gore is actually the number one name on the list.
With only two years of control, one of them in a lockout-shortened season, a Gore trade makes sense. If Paul Toboni doesn’t think the Nats can compete or re-sign Gore in the coming years, trading Gore makes sense. CJ Abrams is 23rd on the trade board, but that move seems much less likely.
Another important date is November 7. That’s when free agents can officially sign. Unlike other sports, there isn’t a flurry of signings on the first day of free agency. These deals usually last for months. Most of these guys sign somewhere between early December and early February.
One thing Paul Toboni has to look forward to is his very first GM Meetings as a franchise boss. The GM Meetings are in Vegas from November 10 to 13. During those meetings, the league’s top executives lay the groundwork for potential transactions and also discuss rule changes.
Later in November, the owners will have their meeting in New York from November 18 to 20. They will discuss baseball related matters. With the CBA set to expire after next season, those meetings will likely be quite tense. I’m sure there are some major disagreements between small and large market owners right now, especially after the Dodgers won their second straight World Series thanks to massive spending.
The next day is actually an important day for Nats fans to follow. November 21 is the deadline for non-tendering. We even wrote that the Nats have a few undrafted prospects, so this is a date to keep an eye on. There may also be a flurry of trading activity around this time. Don’t be surprised if we see some Nats moves around November 21st.
The next big date is December 4. That’s the draft lottery. Despite finishing 66-96, the Nats are locked into the 11th pick because they were in the top 10 last year and are at the top of the revenue sharing totem pole. We wrote a few days ago about some of the shortcomings of that system.
This will be followed by the Winter Meetings from December 8 to 11. This is the time when all owners and executives meet in one place, this year it’s in Orlando. Many of the biggest steps are taken during or around the Winter Meetings. In the middle of winter this is the time when we get the fireworks.
On the penultimate day of meetings, we have the Rule 5 draft. If teams do not add prospects to the 40-man roster after they have been in their system for a certain number of years, they are exposed to the Rule 5 draft.
This could be an opportunity for Paul Toboni to pick up some talent for free. However, you have to keep those players on the MLB roster all year long, even though they are often not yet ready for the MLB. Last year the White Sox found Shane Smith in the Rule 5 Draft and he was a great pickup for them.
After that, the offseason starts to slow down, but there is still plenty of signing taking place after the Winter Meetings. However, there aren’t many notable events for the remainder of the offseason. Pitchers and catchers report on February 10, 2026. Here’s a nice countdown until that date.
Brace yourself, because this offseason could be huge for the Nats and the league as a whole. Sure, the season is over, but baseball never sleeps. There’s always something going on. People will sign, players will be traded and there will be many important matchups. Be prepared for the low season as there may be big fireworks.
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