MLB pitches free agent frenzy period similar to NFL, NBAJesse RogersAug 27, 2026, 03:47 PM ETClose
- Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
Major League Baseball has proposed a three-week free agent signing window in December, sources validated to ESPN, as part of a plan to generate an offseason transaction frenzy similar to those in the NFL and NBA.
MLB wants free agency to officially begin on the Monday of the winter meetings, which take place in early December. The window to sign players would close on Dec. 21 and then reopen on the first Monday in February before spring training starts.
There also would be a ban on all trades during the gap between those proposed free agent periods.
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Teams would still be able to negotiate with players starting five days after the conclusion of the World Series, but agreements could not be finalized until the winter meetings.
The proposal comes as part of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, and only as part of a salary cap system, which MLB has previously expressed a desire for.
The MLBPA has traditionally been against signing windows for free agency, believing that it hurts leverage for players.
In addition to the change in the offseason calendar, MLB also is proposing the use of weekly rosters, which teams would set between Sunday night and Monday afternoon. A player on the roster on Monday would have to stay on the roster until the following Sunday unless he’s placed on the injured list, which would also be calculated weekly.
Position players on the IL would be required to be on it for a full week; pitchers for two weeks. For example, if a position player is placed on the IL on a Tuesday, he would have to stay on it for the rest of that week plus the following one.
The one exception would be if a different player from the roster were placed on the IL, then the injured one could take his place on the active one.
As part of the roster changes, MLB also is proposing a maximum of four minor league options per season — down from five. Teams would be allowed to keep 14 pitchers instead of 13, which is currently the rule. MLB says teams already use an average of 13.9 pitchers per week using minor league options as a way of calling up fresh arms.
All of the moves are intended to combat roster churn, which has become the norm in order for teams to have fresh pitching arms throughout the season.
MLB also proposed changes to the Rule 5 draft, which takes place at the winter meetings. Players would be eligible a year earlier than the current rules call for and could be optioned to the minor leagues by their new team. Currently, Rule 5 selections must stay on the active roster of their new teams for the entire season or be sent back to their old teams.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
