Key MLB offseason dates: When does free agency start? What else will happen before potential lockout?

A lockout looms, but there are plenty of important dates on the baseball calendar in the coming weeks The 2026 MLB season is complete and the Brewers are World Series champions. They defeated the Rays to clinch the first title in franchise history. We were assured a first-time champion this season and the Brewers won it. The Rays will try again for their first title next year. With the World Series now complete, the 2026-27 offseason has officially begun, and several significant events are right around the corner. Of course, this all comes with a disclaimer. When the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, the owners are expected to lock out the players until a new deal is reached.

That could take days, weeks, months, who knows? It may affect spring training and even the 2027 regular season, or they may find labor peace before the spring. Regardless, the likely lockout will all but certainly affect some of the calendar. MLB free agency will still begin in early November, but transactions will all come to a halt the minute there is a lockout. Here now are the important dates and deadlines for the coming weeks and months. As of 9 a.m. ET, eligible players (i.e. those with at least six years of service time) are free agents. Free