October/November -- Free agent filing period, first 15 days after World Series ends.
Nov. 3-6 -- General managers' meetings, Dana Point, Calif.
Dec. 1 -- Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.
Dec. 5 -- Major League Baseball Players Association executive board meeting, Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 7 -- Last day for free agents offered salary arbitration to accept the offers.
Dec. 8-11 -- Winter meetings, Las Vegas.
Dec. 8 -- Hall of Fame Veterans Committee vote announced, Las Vegas.
Dec. 12 -- Last day for teams to offer 2009 contracts to unsigned players.
2009
Jan 5-15 -- Salary arbitration filing.
Jan. 19 or 20 -- Exchange of salary arbitration figures.
Feb. 1-21 -- Salary arbitration hearings, Phoenix.
Feb. 14 -- Mandatory reporting date for players on World Baseball Classic rosters of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan unless they have reported directly to their national teams; mandatory reporting date for pitchers and catchers on provisional rosters of other WBC teams; voluntary reporting date for non-WBC pitchers, catchers and injured players.
Feb. 17 -- Mandatory reporting date for remaining position players on WBC rosters; voluntary reporting date for non-WBC position players.
Feb. 22 -- Mandatory reporting date for non-WBC players.
March 2-11 -- Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.
March 5-23 -- World Baseball Classic.
March 18- Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.
April 1 -- Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2008 salary.
April 5 -- Opening day, active rosters reduced to 25 players.
June 9-10 -- Amateur draft.
July 14 -- All-Star game, St. Louis.
July 26 -- Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y.
July 31 -- Last day to trade a player without securing waivers.
Aug. 15 -- Last day to sign selections from 2009 amateur draft who have not exhausted college eligibility.
Sept. 1 -- Active rosters expand to 40 players.
Dec. 7-10 -- Winter meetings, Indianapolis.