The 2017 MLB season officially ended this week with the Houston Astros defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series, claiming their first championship in franchise history. For the Dodgers, they were turned away in what was their first trip to the Fall Classic since 1988.
When free agency officially began the morning after the World Series concluded, it meant six players were no longer under contract with the Dodgers. The group consisted of Yu Darvish, Curtis Granderson, Franklin Gutierrez, Brandon Morrow, Chase Utley and Tony Watson.
Unlike last winter when there was a focus to re-sign Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, how the Dodgers will press ahead during the current offseason is not readily clear. Of their crop of free agents, Morrow and Watson figure to be most likely to be retained.
As free agency unfolds over the coming days and weeks, it will intertwine with MLB awards season, general managers’ meetings, Winter Meetings and the Rule 5 Draft.
Included below is a list of important dates to be mindful of for the 2017 offseason:
- Thursday, Nov. 2: Beginning at 6 a.m. PT, clubs have an exclusive five-day window to re-sign their free agents
- Saturday, Nov. 4: Deadline for players with opt-out clauses in their contracts to make a decision for 2018
- Monday, Nov. 6: Teams have until 2 p.m. PT to extend the one-year, qualifying offer, valued at $17.4 million, to eligible players
- Monday, Nov. 6: Beginning at 2 p.m. PT, free agents become eligible to sign with any team
- Monday, Nov. 6: BBWAA Awards finalists (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) announced on MLB Network beginning at 3 p.m. PT
- Tuesday, Nov. 7: Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners announced at 3 p.m. PT on ESPN
- Wednesday, Nov. 8: Players Choice Awards winners (Player of the Year, Outstanding Pitcher, Outstanding Rookie, Marvin Miller Man of the Year, etc.) unveiled on MLB Network at 5 p.m. PT
- Thursday, Nov. 9: Louisville Silver Slugger Awards winners announced on MLB Network, beginning at 3 p.m. PT
- Friday, Nov. 10: Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards announced on MLB Network at 3 p.m. PT
- Monday-Thursday, Nov. 13-16: General manager meetings (Orlando, Fla.)
- Monday, Nov. 13: American League and National League 2016 Rookie of the Year Award winners announced on MLB Network at 3 p.m. PT
- Tuesday, Nov. 14: AL and NL Manager of the Year winners announced on MLB Network at 3 p.m. PT
- Wednesday, Nov. 15: Cy Young Award winners announced, beginning at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network
- Thursday, Nov. 16: 2 p.m. PT deadline for players to accept or reject the one-year qualifying offer
- Thursday, Nov. 16: MVP winners unveiled on MLB Network, beginning at 3 p.m. PT
- Friday, Nov. 17: Esurance MLB Awards (Best Major Leaguer, Best Hitter, Best Pitcher, Best Rookie, etc.) winners announced on MLB Network
- Monday, Nov. 20: Deadline for clubs to set their 40-man rosters in advance of the 2018 Rule 5 Draft
- Friday, Dec. 1: 5 p.m. PT deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players
- Monday-Thursday, Dec. 10-14: 2017 Winter Meetings (Orlando)
- Thursday, Dec. 14: Rule 5 Draft concludes Winter Meetings
- Saturday, Jan. 13: Teams and players must exchange filing salary figures for arbitration. Arbitration hearings are expected to be held in early February
Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager were each nominated for a Gold Glove Award, while Cody Bellinger is the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. He’d become the second consecutive Dodgers player to take home the honor, as Seager was the unanimous selection in 2016.
Los Angeles holds a $9 million option on Logan Forsythe for next season, and a $2.5 million buyout on Andre Ethier’s contract. Should the Dodgers not buy out the final year, Ethier would earn $17.5 million in 2018.