Today marks the last day of imposed quietude between the end of the World Series and the start of the hot stove season, but there's been plenty of shifting underneath the surface.
Some actions are mandated by league deadlines. For instance, teams and players have until Monday to exercise or reject options, and the White Sox already did their part by declining the options on Yoán Moncada and Max Stassi. The Orioles also made the decision the White Sox foisted upon them by declining Eloy Jiménez's $16.5 million option, paying him the $3 million buyout instead.
Then you have the Braves, who are pretty much maximizing their ability to conduct transactions that don't involve free agents. They made the first trade of the winter by sending Jorge Soler to Anaheim for Griffin Canning. Atlanta had acquired Soler from San Francisco to address an injury-ravaged outfield in July, but didn't have the need for the remaining two years and $26 million remaining on his contract, so they sent him to the Angels for West Coast Chris Flexen.
Meanwhile, they restructured the contracts of Reynaldo López and Aaron Bummer in order to free up immediate spending money. In both cases, they reduced their 2025 obligations by effectively guaranteeing club options. Bummer's case is particularly fascinating, at least for those seeking to bridge the nagging gap between his stuff and his results. Atlanta gave him a two-year, $13 million deal that effectively guarantees the two club options years, just at a discount (they were originally written for $14.75 million if both were exercised).
In a little more than 24 hours, the general managers meetings will commence and the free agency gates will open. Given the state of TV deals around the league, they probably won't be floodgates, especially if you treat Cody Bellinger's decision to stay with the Cubs as a barometer of offseason activity. It'll be worth watching to see which players sign the earliest, and whether it's because some teams are willing to be aggressive, or if players want to dodge the potentially brutal game of musical chairs at the end of the winter.
Here are the other key dates to keep in mind:
Today: Gold Glove winners will be announced. Nicky Lopez gives the White Sox a finalist at second base, but he looks likely to be a distant third.
Monday: Free agency opens at 4 p.m. CT.
Monday-Thursday: The GM meetings in San Antonio, where some fairly significant rule changes could be discussed. Rob Manfred tipped one during the World Series by saying the ABS challenge system currently used in Triple-A will be tested in spring training.
Also Monday: The Hall of Fame will announce the eight-person ballot for the Classic Baseball Era Committee, covering players, managers and executives before 1980.
Nov. 11: The finalists for the major awards will be announced. The White Sox don't figure to have any candidates.
Nov. 12: Silver Slugger winners will be announced. The White Sox don't figure to have any candidates.
Nov. 18: The 2025 Hall of Fame ballot will be unveiled. Ichiro Suzuki could be unanimous, while CC Sabathia and Felix Hernández will clog Mark Buehrle's lane. Melky Cabrera looks like the only potential former White Sox on his first ballot.
Also Nov. 18: The Rookie of the Year winners will be announced, followed by Manager of the Year, Cy Youngs and the MVPs.
Nov. 19: Players who were issued a qualifying offer have to accept or reject them on this date. This doesn't figure to affect the White Sox's free agency plans.
Nov. 22: The non-tender deadline could be the most eventful day on the calendar for the White Sox, depending on what it says about their commitment to Andrew Vaughn.
Dec. 9-12: The winter meetings in Dallas. The White Sox won't be able to finish higher than 10th in the draft lottery, but they will have the first pick in the Rule 5 draft, so there's that. We'll be there.
Jan. 9: The deadline for arbitration-eligible players and their teams to file salaries. The hearings will start on Jan. 27 for those who take it all the way to court.
Jan. 15: The first international signing period opens, and David Keller's operation is on the clock.
Feb. 14 or so: Pitchers and catchers report.
Feb. 22: The White Sox play their first Cactus League game against the Cubs, and the action begins anew.
