MLB Announces Key Dates for 2025 Offseason, Including Start of Free Agency and Draft Weekend

With the 2024 MLB regular season approaching, Major League Baseball has announced crucial dates for the 2025 offseason.

Here are the key dates provided by MLB:

• Feb. 18 to March 4: Window for tagging franchise and transition players
• March 12: Start of the new league year and free agency
• April 24-26: 2025 MLB Draft in Green Bay
• April 7: Teams with new managers can begin offseason workouts
• April 21: Teams with returning managers can begin offseason workouts

Additionally, MLB has stated that each team can designate a maximum of eight players to return from certain roster lists (i.e., injured reserve) during the regular season, with an additional two designations allowed during the postseason. A player can be designated to return a maximum of two times, and each designation counts against the team’s total allowance.

Another important date is March 10, marking the beginning of the legal tampering period for free agents. This period is typically one of the busiest times on the MLB calendar. The announcement of these dates underscores that there is no true offseason in MLB, with activities and key events occurring year-round. This year’s World Series will conclude on Oct. 28, just a few months before teams start preparing for the next season.