The baseball calendar for the upcoming months is packed with notable events and deadlines that players, teams, and fans should be aware of. Let’s break it down.
From March 13-16, fans can look forward to Spring Breakout, a much-anticipated period for many baseball enthusiasts. Following closely, on March 18-19, the Los Angeles Dodgers will face off against the Chicago Cubs in an exciting match held in Tokyo.
By March 25, teams have the opportunity to place a player on waivers in a move concerning the 45-day termination pay. Then, on March 27, the season formally kicks off for all other teams, with active rosters required to be trimmed down to just 26 players.
Come mid-July, Atlanta becomes the center stage for major baseball events. On July 12, the Futures Game is set to delight fans, followed by the Amateur Draft, which runs from July 13 to 15. Additionally, Atlanta will host the thrilling Home Run Derby on July 14, leading up to the All-Star Game on July 15.
Later in July, specifically on the 27th, baseball legends will be honored at the Hall of Fame inductions in Cooperstown, New York. Just days later, on July 31, teams must finalize any player trades by 6 p.m. EDT, marking the last chance for trades during the season.
As the action rolls into August, notable games include an Atlanta vs. Cincinnati clash on August 2 in Bristol, Tennessee, followed by an intriguing matchup between the New York Mets and Seattle at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on August 17.
As the season progresses, players must ensure they are in an organization by August 31 to retain postseason eligibility. The next day, on September 1, rosters will be able to expand to 28 players, marking an important adjustment for teams.
The conclusion of the regular season is set for September 28. Post-season preparations and business decisions ramp up in November, with the specific date to be confirmed, as club teams have until the fifth day after the World Series to extend qualifying offers to eligible former players. This offer must be made by 5 p.m. EST, while players have until a still-to-be-determined date to accept these offers by 4 p.m. EST.
Several important dates are also outlined for December, including the announcement of the Hall of Fame vote by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee in Orlando, Florida, on December 7, alongside the Winter Meetings from December 7-10. The Rule 5 draft will also occur in Orlando on December 10. By December 15, the international signing period closes at 5 p.m. EST.
Looking ahead to 2026, the new international signing period opens at 9 a.m. EST on January 15. In March, from the 2nd to the 11th, teams have a window to renew contracts for unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.
The All-Star Game is anticipated to take place in Philadelphia in July 2026, though the exact date is pending. Another key point in the season is the last opportunity to trade a player, with the date yet to be announced. Similar to this year, players must be within an organization by August 31 to be postseason eligible, and active rosters again expand to 28 players starting September 1.
As with the current year, clubs have a window in November to make qualifying offers to free agents, with the deadline occurring five days post-World Series. The acceptance deadline and offers for 2027 contracts to unsigned players on the 40-man rosters are also to be announced. Finally, note that the Basic Agreement is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1.
