Ah, It's the Off-Season - Let's Look Ahead At The Next Few Weeks

The off-season officially begins today.  Lots of important dates so I thought I would summarize them, especially as they pertain to the Guardians.

November 2 

• Eligible ML players declare their free agency: Lane Thomas, Jakob Junis can declare. Junis may actually sign between now and November 6th (see below).
• Gold Glove Award Winners Announced: Kwan, Santana, Schneeman eligible
• Teams can start trading ML players and prospects with each other (they could only trade minor league players not on 40-man rosters since the trading deadline)

November 6 

• Free agents allowed to sign w/other teams (Guards likely to be quiet early w/ MLB FAs)
• Qualifying offers must be tendered (Guardians will not extend any)

November 7

• AL Silver Sluggers announced (Jose Ramirez finalist at 3B)

November 11

• AL Manager of the Year announced (Steven Vogt has a chance to win his 2nd in a row)

November 13 

• AL Hank Aaron Award winner and all-MLB Teams announced (Jose Ramirez has a chance in each category

November 18

• 40-man rosters and AAA and AA reserve lists set for each time in preparation of the Rule 5 draft (If I had it my way, prospects signed before their 17th birthday would get an extra year of team control and not be Rule 5 eligible for an additional year compared to players drafted out of high school. The Guardians have up to 20 guys that I see who are R5 eligible who I think might play in the majors some day for some team.  They are likely to protect 3-4 with Angel Genao, Khalil Watson and Austin Peterson the most likely and Wuilfredo Antunez a dark horse.  Of course, CA and Chernof have surprised us in the past by protecting relievers (e.g., Tim Herrin).  So, it will, as always, be interesting, and start the nail-biting up to December 10 (date the R5 draft is held).
• Players have to decide if they are going to accept QOs and, if not, go to free agency

November 21

• Teams have to decide if they will tender players 2026 contracts.  Non-tendered players become free agents (Lively, Hentges, Allard, Festa, Brennan are among Guardians who might be non-tendered).  Non-tendered players are then added to the free agent pool.
• NOTE: I have said for a long time that in the new CBA they should flip the 40-man roster freeze and non-tender dates.  It makes no sense to set your 40-man and then almost immediately non-tender guys who you have protected.  I know teams make that work but it makes no sense to this baseball fan.

December 7

• The group formerly known as the Veterans Committee will announce if any player who has completed their HOF consideration period will be added to the HOF for the upcoming year.  The nominees have not been announced but we can only hope that Kenny Lofton is among them.  There is lots of internet lobbying going on, some subtle, some not so subtle, for certain players being nominated.

December 10

• The Rule 5 Draft will be held.  Last year the Guardians had Christian Cairo selected in the ML phase and selected Will Wilson in the AAA phase.  I have ultimate faith in Antonetti and Chernof to do this right, as they seem to do every year.