I plagarized this list of important dates from MLB.com. Thank you, MLB.
• Oct. 30 - Nov. 13: Free-agency filing period, which began with the last out of the World Series and lasts for 15 days.
• Nov. 3-6: General Managers Meetings, Dana Point, Calif.
• Nov. 5-18: Awards weeks. [American League Gold Glove Team (Nov. 5) through the AL Most Valuable Player (Nov. 18)]
• Nov. 20: Deadline for clubs to file Minor League and Major League reserve lists -- players protected from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
• Dec. 1: Deadline for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their ranked free agents -- who then will have six days to decided whether to accept or decline.
• Dec. 5: The executive board of the players union holds its annual meeting, in Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 7: Deadline for free agents to accept their 2008 clubs' arbitration offer.
• Dec. 8-11: Winter Meetings, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Dec. 8: Announcement of the latest voting results by the Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee, on-site at the Winter Meetings.
• Dec. 11: Rule 5 Draft.
• Early December: Hall of Fame ballot blast.
• Dec. 12: Deadline to offer contracts to rostered players
• Jan. 5 (unconfirmed): Announcement of Hall of Fame election results, traditionally made at the beginning of the new year's first full week.
• Jan. 5-15: Filing period for players eligible for salary arbitration.
• Jan. 19: Players and management representatives formally exchange salary figures filed for arbitration.
• Feb. 1-21: Salary arbitration hearings, Phoenix.
• Feb. 14, 17: Spring Training reporting dates for position players, pitchers on World Baseball Classic rosters.
• Feb. 22: Mandatory reporting date for non-World Baseball Classic players.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com.
