MLB Winter Meeting Dates 2019
By Andy Loughmiller
The Washington Nationals have been crowned World Series Champions, which means the MLB season has finally come to a conclusion. It also means that the Baseball Winter Meetings are right around the corner. Here are some important dates to keep an eye on.
Dec. 8 - First day of Winter Meetings
The event will officially begin on Dec. 8. The first thing on the schedule will be the PBEO Job Fair. Interested job seekers will have the opportunity to network with employers and search for open positions. Other events on this day include the MiLB Diversity in Sport Forum in the afternoon and a banquet ceremony in the evening.
The MLB off-season waits for no one...
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) October 31, 2019
•131 players hit free agency today
•option decisions, qual. offers in coming days
•GM Meetings Nov. 11-14
•Rule 5 protection deadline Nov. 20
•tender deadline Dec. 2
•Winter Meetings Dec. 8-12
•arbitration filing January
Dec. 9 - Opening Session
Winter Meetings officially get started on Dec. 9 with the Opening Session. The League Executive of the Year Awards will be presented during this morning event. The second day of the event will also feature the Awards Luncheon and a baseball trade show later in the day.
Dec. 10 - Presidential Election
Minor League Baseball will be holding its presidential elections during the 2019 Winter Meetings. Current President Pat O'Conner will have a chance to be re-elected for a fourth straight term. He was originally elected at the 2007 Winter Meetings. This will be the final event held on Dec. 10.
Dec. 11 - Closing Session
This will serve as a final ceremony for the Winter Meetings. This will include a roll call of League Presidents and a vote will be held on proposed amendments. MiLB President & CEO Pat O'Conner will then take the stage to cap off the event.
Dec. 12 - Rule 5 Draft
The Rule 5 Draft will take place on the final day of Winter Meetings. Teams will have the opportunity to add players from the minors to their 40-man rosters. MLB teams who do not have an open roster spot will not be allowed to make any selections during the draft.
In 2017, he had Tommy John. In 2018, he was available in the Rule 5 draft. Before the season, he changed his last name to honor his mother. On Saturday, Josè Urquidy’s mom was there to watch her son start in the World Series: “This is now history, right?” https://t.co/Szzy1Nha9Z
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) October 27, 2019
These are just a few of the Winter Meeting dates to keep an eye on. There are tons of other events taking place during this five day period, including a bunch of free agency action that will definitely be worth monitoring.