With the World Series officially in the rear-view mirror, today marks the official first day of the offseason.
I thought it would be handy to list all the important dates for easy reference as the offseason progresses. Please note that some dates are subject to change.
2009
November -- Free agent filing period, first 15 days after World Series ends.
Nov. 9 -- General managers meetings, Chicago.
Nov. 10-11 -- General managers meetings are moved to Rio de Janeiro.
Nov. 15 -- Joe Cowley reports that the White Sox have interest in trading for Chone Figgins.
Nov. 29 -- The White Sox front office ponders whether or not to offer arbitration to Octavio Dotel.
Nov. 30 -- Scott Linebrink wakes up from yet another undeservedly good night of sleep.
December -- Questionable Latin American alleged crime period.
Dec. 1 -- Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.
Dec. 3 -- White Sox release spring training schedule.
Dec. 4 -- Jim Margalus bitches about price of spring training tickets.
Dec. 7 -- Last day for free agents offered salary arbitration to accept the offers.
Dec. 7-10 -- Winter meetings, Indianapolis.
Dec. 8 -- White Sox make surprise trade, dealing veteran for two Arizona Fall League players, and another guy who once fell in Arizona.
Dec. 10 -- Player White Sox traded away expresses surprise, slightest amount of displeasure in reaction to the trade.
Dec. 11 -- In response, Ozzie Guillen responds by ripping player with 10,000 times the force of the original criticism.
Dec. 12 -- Special Olympics demands apology from Guillen.
Dec. 12 -- Last day for teams to offer 2010 contracts to unsigned players.
Dec. 22 -- Phil Rogers reports that there's talk about Paul Konerko heading to the Angels for Ervin Santana and Casey Kotchman.
Dec. 27 -- Gio Gonzalez receives apartment lease renewal form, panics.
2010
January -- Find-something-anything-to-talk-about period.
Jan 5-15 -- Salary arbitration filing.
Jan. 17 -- Chone Figgins signs a four-year, $30 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Jan. 18 -- Onslaught of columns about the White Sox' inability to close the deal on Figgins on 43 different occasions.
Jan. 19 -- Exchange of salary arbitration figures.
Jan. 22-24 -- SoxFest takes place at Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
Jan. 22 -- Chris Getz injures hand signing an autograph.
Jan. 23 -- Kenny Williams shows amazing control during a heated Q&A session, interrupting an angry fan by leaning to the side and passing gas into the microphone, starting and stopping each time said angry fan tries to resume speaking.
Jan. 30 -- White Sox rumored to have interest in trading for Chone Figgins and Jake Peavy.
February -- Sarcastic Camelback Ranch reference period.
Feb. 1-21 -- Salary arbitration hearings.
Feb. 19 -- Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in the best shape of their lives, except for Bobby Jenks.
Feb. 24 -- Players report to Glendale for first full workout in the best shape of their lives, except for Dayan Viciedo.
Feb. 25 -- Ozzie Guillen expresses desire to get back to basics for fourth consecutive year.
Feb. 26 -- Chris Getz bunts ball into own face, will miss four weeks.
March -- Mark Buehrle injury period
************************************
Arizona Fall League:
- Mesa 8, Peoria 5
- Jordan Danks went 0-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two strikeouts.
- C.J. Retherford went hitless in four ABs, striking out twice.
- Sergio Santos struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning.
