I usually hold off on publishing this article until after the playoffs.  But, like last year, another too early Phillies’ exit from the playoffs will generate a lot of offseason talk earlier than usual.

I started prepping this back in August.  It would have been best to hold off publishing until after the world series, but I can publish now and update as necessary.

It’s going to take a lot of wheeling and dealing to upgrade the roster with the monetary and other challenges presented by past decisions.

This can serve as a normal Phillies Discussion.

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The future CBA will undoubtedly have some impact on some of the dollar figures and possibly some of the rules that are used to determine some of the categories.  What is not negotiable is the almost $220 million the Phillies have tied up in just nine contracts.

Summary of Expenses– CBT thresholds are estimates since we don’t now what they will be or if they will be.  I think I’m guessing a little high, maybe not.  ALL estimates are in red italics.  Thresholds are 2026 thresholds.

• Sunk Costs:     $        21,166,667   (includes 14 players on 40-man roster)
• Guarantees:    $    218,699,771   (9 contracts for 9 players)
• Arbitration:     $        36,000,000   (for 9 of 10 players on active roster)
• Pre-Arb:            $          3,000,000   (for 3 players at new league minimum)
• Options:            none
• Total Costs:     $    278,866,438   
• Amount Over the 1st CBT threshold of $244M … $34,866,438
• Amount Over the 2nd CBT threshold of $264M … $14,866,438
• Amount Under the 3rd CBT threshold of $284M … $5,133,562
• Amount Under the 4th CBT threshold of $304M … $25,133,562

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Sunk Costs are costs other than major league salaries that count toward the calculation of a team’s competitive balance tax threshold.  The estimated minor league salaries represent the estimate for minor league players on the 40-man roster and evaporate as those salaries become fixed.

• First sunk cost is for player benefits – $18,500,000.
• Second sunk cost is the estimated salary for the minor league players – $1,500,000.
• Third sunk cost is the “zero-to-three-year” bonus pool – $1,666,667.

Total sunk costs $21,166,667.

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Guaranteed Contracts are contracts that are guaranteed for the 2027 season, and in some cases beyond.  The first figure is the player’s total contract followed by the length of the contract, then the salary for this season, and finally the salary computed toward the competitive balance tax threshold (AAV).

1. Zack Wheeler ($126M (25-27)). $42,000,000/$42,000,000
2. Kyle Schwarber ($150M (26-30)). $33,000,000/$30,000,000
3. Trea Turner ($300M (23-33)). $27,272,727/$27,272,727
4. Jesus Luzardo ($135 (27-31)). $27,000,000/$27,000,000
5. Bryce Harper ($330M (19-31)). $27,538,462/$25,384,615
6. Aaron Nola ($172M (24-30)). $24,571,429/$24,571,429
7. Cristopher Sanchez ($104 (27-32)). $7,000,000/$16,471,000
8. J.T. Realmuto ($45M (26-28)). $15,000,000/$15,000,000
9. Brad Keller ($22M (26-27)). $13,000,000/$11,000,000

Total salary of $216,382,618 but $218,699,771 counts against the CBT threshold.

While suggesting trades to improve the Phillies keep in mind that Turner and Harper have full no-trade clauses Wheeler, Schwarber, Nola, and Realmuto can veto trades because they have 10-5 rights (ten years in the league and five consecutive years with their current club), leaving Luzardo, Sanchez, and Keller as the only contracts that can be traded without the player’s  “permission”.  Sanchez has a $1M assignment bonus if he is traded.

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Arbitration Eligible Player Salaries are ESTIMATES of the player’s salary for the 2027 season.  While teams and players may come to agreement before the actual arbitration hearing, we may not know the actual salaries of all players until mid-February.  If a team decides to not tender a salary offer to a player, that player becomes a free agent.  Estimates are from MLBTR.

1. Garrett Stubbs – estimate is $1.0M
2. Brandon Marsh – estimate is $8.3M
3. JhoanDuran – estimate is $10.9M
4. Bryson Stott – estimate is $9.2M
5. Tanner Banks – estimate is $1.4M
6. Derek Hill – estimate is $1.5M
7. Rafael Marchan – estimate is $1.0M
8. Bryan De La Cruz – estimate is $1.2M
9. Orion Kerkering – estimate is $1.5M
10. Johan Rojas – no estimate provided.

Commitment at these estimates comes to $36,000,000 toward the threshold.

Duran, Stott, Marsh, Banks, and Kerkering are probably locks to receive offers.  I like the composition of the Phillies bench and would hope they keep De La Cruz and Hill whether through arbitration or negotiated contracts.  Stubbs has already shown a willingness to sign and wait in Lehigh Valley so I expect Marchan and Stubbs will also be extended offers or will sign negotiated contracts.  I expect the Phillies will non-tender Rojas.  Rojas finished the season on the 60-day injury list with a serious injury incurred at the Complex while ramping up toward the end of his suspension (alone but with league permission to use team facilities).  Maybe they’ll sign him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.  I don’t expect him to hold down a 40-man roster spot.

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Pre-Arbitration Players are cost-controlled players whose salaries were negotiated by the MLB and the MLBPA and defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The minimum salary in 2027 might be $1,000,000.  (The owners’ first offer suggested this number.)

Some of the remaining spots on the active roster will be filled from within the organization with affordable, cost-controlled, pre-arbitration players (17).  This group includes 6 players (bold text) currently on the playoff roster – 

•  Jonathan Bowlan, Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Alex McFarlane, Chase Shugart, Max Lazar, Kyle Backhus, Otto Kemp, Moises Chace, Andrew Hoffmann, Grant Holman, Caleb Kilian, Kameron Misner, Alan Rangel, Felix Reyes, Gabriel Rincones, Colby Thomas

Painter, McFarlane, and Crawford are probably locks to be on the active roster.

On or around November 21st, there is a Non-Tender Deadline.  It is the final day that the Phillies and all clubs can tender contracts to unsigned players on the Major League Reserve List (40-man roster) who have less than 6 years of service time including arbitration eligible players.  Non-tenders become free agents.

A handful of the above players will certainly go non-tendered either because they are no longer seen as viable reserve list players or to make room for players they want to protect from the Rule 5 Draft.  The Rule 5 Protection Deadline is on or about November 18th.

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Options includes player options, club options, and mutual options.  Player and club options only require that the player or the club exercise the option.  Mutual options require that both the player and the club accept the conditions included in the option in the current negotiated contract.

The Phillies have no options of any kind this offseason.  In fact, they don’t have any options of any kind on the books until 2032 (Luzardo, club option) and 2033 (Sanchez, conditional club option).  A conditional club option is tied to performance and/or availability.  For instance, Sanchez’ option is for $10M conditionally increasing to $32.5M if Sánchez is not on the injured list for 130 or more consecutive days during the season in 2031 or 2032.

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MLB Free Agents

The Phillies have 8 free agents among the players on their 40-man roster – 3B Alec Bohm, RF Adolis Garcia, LHP Jose Alvarado, INF Edmundo Sosa, LHP Tim Mayza, 2B Luis Arraez, LHP Nestor Cortez, LHP Brooks Raley.

I think that they will maybe have interest in signing Mayza at some point.  I like Sosa but I don’t know how he fits into their plans.  Cost could come into play.  Mayza got under $2.0M last season, Sosa around $4.4M.  The Phillies don’t really have a major league ready option at multiple infield positions (including SS)  on their roster.

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Qualifying Offers

MLBTR estimates that the qualifying offer this offseason will be $23.1M.  None of the above free agents seems likely to receive a qualifying offer.  It’s more likely that none are extended an offer but one or two would be courted with one or two year deals in free agency, like maybe Sosa and perhaps Mayza, as I mentioned above.  I like the composition of the Phillies’ bench.  I hope they find a way to keep Sosa.  I realize that most of the bench is the right-handed side of a platoon (Sosa, Hill, De La Cruz).

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Roster and Depth Options as the Offseason Arrives – The Phillies will likely go into the offseason with 4 vacancies on their 40-man roster.  This does not rule out the possibility of further releases.  Hopefully they can fill openings at third base, right field, and rebuild the bullpen.  They can start with addition by subtraction in the bullpen.

1. SP Zack Wheeler
2. SP Jesús Luzardo
3. SP Aaron Nola
4. SP Cristopher Sánchez
5. SP Andrew Painter
6. CL Jhoan Duran
7. RP Brad Keller (IL-60)
8. RP Tanner Banks
9. RP Jonathan Bowlan
10. RP Alex McFarlane
11. RP Chase Shugart
12. RP Max Lazar
13. RP
14. C J.T. Realmuto
15. 1B Bryce Harper
16. 2B Bryson Stott
17. SS Trea Turner
18. 3B
19. LF Brandon Marsh
20. CF Justin Crawford
21. RF
22. DH Kyle Schwarber
23. C Rafael Marchán
24. C Garrett Stubbs
25. OF Derek Hill
26. OF Bryan De La Cruz
27. UTIL Otto Kemp
29. INF Kameron Misner (minors)
30. OF  Rincones Jr. (minors)
31. OF Colby Thomas (minors)
32. OF Felix Reyes (IL-60)
33. OF Johan Rojas (IL-60)
34. SP Moisés Chace (minors)
35. SP Alan Rangel (minors)
36. RP Kyle Backhus (minors)
37. RP Andrew Hoffmann (minors)
38. RP Grant Holman (minors)
39. RP Orion Kerkering (minors)
40. RP Caleb Kilian (IL-60)

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Minor League Free Agents

The following 23 players may become free agents at the end of the season.  As far as I can tell they have all satisfied their first UPC.  Most (16) are coming off the Lehigh Valley roster.

• RHP (12): Andrew Bechtold (LHV), Samuel Carlson (REA), Drake Fellows (LHV), Conner Gillispie (LHV), Brian Keller (LHV), Casey Lawrence (LHV), Michael Mercado (LHV), Daniel Robert (LHV), Levi Stoudt (LHV), Lou Trivino (LHV), Gabriel Barbosa (REA), Giussepe Velasquez (JER)
• LHP (4): Kolby Allard (LHV), Tucker Davidson (LHV), Kirby Snead (LHV), Adam Seminaris (REA)
• C (3): Payton Henry, (LHV), Luis Caicuto (REA), Markos Kolosvary (REA)
• INF (3): Carter Kieboom (LHV), Dylan Moore (LHV), Erick Brito (REA), 
• OF (1): Steward Berroa (LHV)

Rule 5 Eligible Players

This year 24 new players reached Rule 5 eligibility.  They are:

• RHP (12): Brandon Beckel (JER), Wilmer Blanco (CLR), Ethan Chenault (JER), Jake Eddington (JER), Orlando Gonzalez (FCL), Naoel Mejia (FCL), Mitch Neunborn (LHV), Pan Wen-hui (REA), Adilson Peralta (JER), Luke Russo (REA), Casey Steward (JER), Braydon Tucker (REA)
  
• LHP (2): Mavis Graves (REA), Wesley Moore (REA)
• C (3): Kehden Hettiger (REA), Angel Mata (CLR), Guillermo Rosario (REA)
• INF (6):  Keaton Anthony 1B (LHV), Nolan Beltran SS (CLR), Aroon Escobar INF (REA), Bryan Rincon SS (REA), Juan Villavicencio SS (CLR), Bryson Ware 3B (REA)
• OF (1): Manolfi Jimenez OF (FCL)

These 25 players maintain their Rule 5 eligibility from last year:

• RHP (11): Ryan Cusick, Jack Dallas, Daniel Harper, Evan Gates, Estibenzon Jimenez, Christian McGowan, Micah Ottenbreit, Jose Pena, Danyony Pulido, Saul Teran, Josh Winder
• LHP (4): Juan Amarante, Braden Fausnaught, Tristan Garnett, Andrew Walling
• C (3): Jordan Dissin, Paul McIntosh, Caleb Ricketts
• INF (3): Nick Biddison, Alex Binelas, Robert Moore
• OF (4): Wiulfredo Antunez, Raylin Heredia, Pedro Leon, Austin Murr

On September 29th, the Lehigh Valley roster has 31 players on its roster.  The Phillies will be able to protect up to 38 players from the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft.  The Phillies don’t publish their transactions prior to the draft so we never know for sure who or how many they are protecting.  But let’s look at what we know and what some of the possibilities might be.

• Of the 31 IronPigs, 16 are minor league free agents – Andrew Bechtold, Drake Fellows, Conner Gillispie, Brian Keller, Casey Lawrence, Michael Mercado, Daniel Robert, Levi Stoudt, Lou Trivino, Kolby Allard, Tucker Davidson, Kirby Snead,  Payton Henry, Carter Kieboom, Dylan Moore, Steward Berroa.
• Of the remaining 15 IronPigs, 2 are on the Phillies 40-man roster and will have been recalled after the season.
• Of the remaining 13 IronPigs, 2 are not Rule 5 eligible and can be moved off the roster for the Rule 5 draft if necessary – Charles King and Jonathan Hogart.
• The remaining 11 IronPigs are Rule 5 eligible – Neunborn and Anthony are first time eligible and the following are returning eligibles – Cusick, Garnett, Walling, Dissin, McIntosh, Biddison, Binelas, Antunez, and Robert Moore.
• So, that clears 27 possible spots on the IronPigs roster for the 40 remaining players who are still Rule 5 eligible.
• However, there is still some more wiggle room.
  • Six of the Rule 5 eligible players finished the season on the 60-day IL.  Teams might be hesitant to select a player, especially a pitcher, who was on the IL for possible arm injury.
  • Eighteen of the Rule 5 eligible players are on rosters of the lower minors (A+, A, and Rookie).
• And finally, the Phillies have signed a handful of minor league players to two-year deals.  I’m not sure who.  That could affect the number of spots available for Rule 5 eligibles.

So, the Phillies may only have to expose a dozen or fewer players to the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 draft. 

Brian Rincon (#96) is a Top 100 Prospect and a first-time eligible who may be protected.  Phillies Top 30 prospects who are draft eligible include the aforementioned Rincon (#4), as well as  Escobar (#6), Pan (#20), and Graves (#26).

Remember this is all just speculative.  We’ll see in December how many players the Phillies select and how many if any of our players get selected.

Note that the MLB Phase of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft was postponed and later cancelled while the MiLB Phase was held as scheduled on December 8, 2021.

Major League Free Agency

I have provided the attached lists of free agents.  They are current as of September 19th.  I’ll try and keep it up to date as more players declare.  I will try to add 2026 stats soon.

With several free agents of their own, the Phillies will surely replenish their roster with free agents, either their own or others.  That’s not to say they will necessarily be in on the big ticket free agents.  But I won’t rule it out.

2026-27 Free Agent Position Players

2026-27 Free Agent Pitchers

Important Dates –  These are baseball’s important dates for the upcoming year.  Red text is used for dates I’m uncertain of an exact date.  Blue text and italics is used for dates at risk after a lockout.

• September 29-October 1, 2026: ALWC and NLWC
• October 3-10, 2026: ALDS and NLDS
• October 3-4, 2026: Opening weekend for the Arizona Fall League (AFL)
  • November 7, 2026: AFL Fall-Stars Home run Derby
  • November 8, 2026: AFL Fall-Stars Game
  • November 11, 2026: End of the AFL regular season
  • November 12, 2026: AFL Quarterfinals (3 v 6, 4 v5)
  • November 13, 2026: AFL Semifinals (1 v 4/5, 2 v 3/6)
  • November 14, 2026: AFL Championship
• October 4, 2026:  Start of the Cuban Serie Nacional de Béisbol (SNB – Winter Season)
  • December 22, 2026:  End of the Serie Nacional de Béisbol season
  • Late December 2026-late-January 2027: Playoffs, eight of sixteen teams
    • Upper Semifinal:  1st seed vs. 2nd seed (within the zone)Best-of-three series; loser moves to preliminary final.
    • Lower Semifinal:  3rd seed vs. 4th seed (within the zone)Best-of-three series; loser is eliminated.
    • Preliminary Final:  Loser of Upper Semifinal vs. Winner of Lower SemifinalBest-of-three series.
    • Zone Final:  Winner of Upper Semifinal vs. Winner of Preliminary FinalDetermines the Occidental and Oriental zone champions.
    • National Final:  Occidental Champion vs. Oriental ChampionBest-of-seven series to decide the national title.
• October 11-19, 2026: NLCS
• October 12-20, 2026: ALCS
• October 12, 2026: Start of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP)
  • December 27, 2026: Conclusion of the LVBP regular season
  • December 29-30, 2026: LVBP Play-in/Wild Card Series (12/30, if needed)
  • January 2, 2027: Start of the LVBP Round Robin Series, top five teams meet in 16-game round robin playoff
  • January 23, 2027: Start of LVBP best of seven Championship Series
• October 13-14, 2026: Start of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP)
  • November 22, 2026: LMP first half ends
  • November 24-December 30, 2026: LMP: LMP second half
  • December 30, 2026: Conclusion of the LMP regular season
  • January 2, 2027: Start of LMP First Round Series (8 teams, best of seven, winners reseeded)
  • January 22-30, 2027: LMP Championship Series (best of seven)
• October 15, 2026: Article XX(D) Free Agency period
  • Any Player who has at least 3 years of Major League service, or who qualified as a “Super Two” Player as of the conclusion of the prior championship season, and whose contract is assigned outright to a Minor League club may elect, in lieu of accepting such assignment, to become a free agent.
  • In the event that such a Player with at least 3 years of Major League service does not elect free agency in lieu of accepting such assignment, he may elect free agency during the period between
    • (i) the end of the then current Major League season and
    • (ii) the next following October 15, or 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the second day after the date the Player’s Club plays in its final post-season game that season (whichever occurs later) (the “Election Period”), unless such Player is returned to a Major League roster prior to making such election.
    • Any Player who accepts an outright assignment as a “Super Two” Player will not retain a right to elect free agency following the season.
• October 16, 2026: Start of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
  • December 4-6, 2026: Scheduled break
  • December 22, 2026: Conclusion of the LIDOM regular season
  • December 26, 2026: Start of LIDOM Round Robin (four teams, 18 games)
  • Mid-January 2027: Start of the LIDOM Championship Series (best of seven)
• October 23-31, 2026: World Series
• October 31, 2026: Start of the Liga Argentina de Béisbol (LAB)
  • January 10-17, 2027: Start of the LAB playoffs – best of three games semifinal series and a best of three championship series
• November 1, 2026: Deadline for the 2027 International Player Registration Period
• November 1 – December 5, 2026 – Window for Nippon Professional Baseball clubs to post players available to sign with MLB clubs.   (unless pushed back, frozen, cancelled because of LOCKOUT)
• AFTER the WORLD SERIES
  • October 28 – November 1, 2026, 9:00 AM, First Day After the World Series:
    • Start of the “quiet period”
    • Eligible XX(B) players become free agents (start of the quiet period)
      • ARTICLE XX(B) Free Agency – Following the completion of the term of his Uniform Player’s Contract, any Player with 6 or more years of Major League service who has not executed a contract for the next succeeding season shall become a free agent.
  • October 29 – November 2, 2026, Second Day After the World Series: Players may be traded between Major League Clubs
  • October 31 – November 4, 2026, Fourth Day After the World Series: Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until next spring
  • November 1 – November 5, 2026, Fifth Day After the World Series: Last date to outright potential Minor League free agent without Major League contract, if applicable
    • Last date for former Club to tender qualifying offer to XX(B) free agent players, if applicable
    • Domestic Minor League Player Limit increases to 175 players
    • Minor League players become free agents at 5:00 p.m. ET, if applicable
    • End of Quiet period, XX(B) free agents may sign with any Club
    • All players on the 60-day Injured List (Major and Minor) and Full-Season Injured Lists must be reinstated
    • Deadline for clubs and players to exercise or decline contract options for the 2026 season.
• November 4, 2026: Start of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)
  • December 29, 2026: Conclusion of the LBPRC regular season
  • December 30, 2026: LBPRC Wild Card game.  Note: This game is played if the team that finishes in fifth place is within one game of fourth place. A sudden-death game will be played, and if the team that finished fourth wins, they will qualify for the postseason. If the team that finished fifth wins, a second seven-inning game will be played that same day, and the winner will earn the fourth and final spot in the semifinals. Therefore, the fifth-place team would have to win both games to advance.
  • January 2-10, 2027: LBPRC Semifinal Series (best of seven)
  • January 12, 2027: Start of LBPRC Championship Series (best of seven)
• November 7, 2026: AFL Fall-Stars Home run Derby
  • November 8, 2026: AFL Fall-Stars Game
  • November 11, 2026: AFL Quarterfinals (3 v 6, 4 v5)
  • November 12, 2026: AFL Semifinals (1 v 4/5, 2 v 3/6)
  • November 13, 2026: AFL Championship
• Early November 2026: Start of the Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombiano (LPBC)
  • Mid-to-late January 2027: The top two of four teams meet in a best-of-seven championship series.
• November, 2026: GM Meetings
• November, 2026: Quarterly owners’ meetings in New York
• November 11-15, 2026: Deadline for XX(B) free agent players to accept or decline qualifying offer from former Club by 4:00 p.m. ET. 
• November 15-19, 2026: Last date to ask Outright Waivers on an injured player, if applicable
• November 15-21, 2026: Rule 5 Protection Deadline – Reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels filed by 6:00 p.m. ET (Transactions MUST be entered by 5:30 p.m. ET)
• November 15-21, 2026 (8:00 p.m. ET): Non-Tender Deadline – Final day for clubs to tender/non-tender contracts to unsigned players on the Major League Reserve List (40-man roster) who have less than 6 years of service time including arbitration eligible players.  Non-tenders become free agents.
• November 19, 2026: Start of the Australian Baseball League (ABL)
  • January 24, 2027: End of the ABL Regular Season
  • January 29-31, 2027: ABL Championship Series (best of three)
• November 27, 2026: Start of the Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (LBPN)
  • January 9, 2027: End of the LBPN season
  • January 12, 2027: LBPN playoffs begin with 4 teams in a 12-game round robin
  • January 25-February 1, 2027: LBPN best of seven championship series
• December 1, 2026: Release of the 2026 International Registered Players List
• December 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET): MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement expires.
• December 1, 2026: Last date for any activity under the old CBA.  As a reference, the Phillies had some late pre-lockout activity in 2021.  On October 29th, they non-tendered LHP Kyle Dohy and CF Roman Quinn and tendered contracts to 1B Rhys Hoskins, RHP Zach Eflin, and LHP Jose Alvarado.  On October 30th, they signed Seranthony Dominguez to a contract to avoid arbitration.  On December 1st, they signed 3B Johan Camargo and RHP Corey Knebel to major league contracts and DFA-ed RHP Adonis Medina.
• December 1, 2026: Expected lockout by owners
• Many dates from this point on may be subject to a lockout and/or a new CBA
• Early December: Competitive balance draft picks assigned
• December 4-8, 2026: Last date to request Outright Waivers to assign player prior to Rule 5 Draft
• December 6-10, 2026: Baseball Winter Meetings, San Diego, California
  • December, 2026: MLB Draft Lottery
  • December 10, 2026: Major League Rule 5 Draft – Winter Meetings
  • December 10, 2026: Minor League Rule 5 Draft – Winter Meetings (Note: during the last lockout, the major league phase of the draft was cancelled but the minor league phase was held.)
• December 15, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): International signing period closes
• December 22, 2026: End of Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
  • December 22, 2026 – January 19, 2027: LIDOM Round Robin
  • January 21-29, 2027: LIDOM World Series
• December 30, 2026: End of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP)
  • January 1 – January 19, 2027: LMP Round Robin
  • January  – January , 2027: LMP World Series
• January, 2027: Exchange of salary arbitration figures
• January, 2027: Period during which arbitration hearing scheduled is set
• January 15, 2027 (9:00 a.m. ET): Opening of the 2027 signing period for international amateurs (not expected to take place)
  • A player must turn 16 before signing a contract and must turn 17 by September 1 of the following year.  (unless changed in the next CBA)
  • Applies to amateur players who reside outside the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.   (unless changed in the next CBA)
  • between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009 (and older), will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period.  (unless changed in the next CBA)
• January – February, 2027: Period during which arbitration hearings will be held
• February 1-7, 2027: Caribbean Series in Mexico – participants will be Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, plus a guest country. 
  • February 1-5, 2027: Caribbean Series – Opening Round Robin Games
  • February 6, 2027: Caribbean Series – Semifinal Games
  • February 7, 2027: Caribbean Series – Championship/Third Place Games
• February 8, 2007: Serie de Las Americas (running concurrently with the Caribbean Series).  Ten team tournament includes champions from six professional leagues (Colombia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Curacao, Panama, Argentina, and the runners up from Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican winter leagues.
• Mid-February: Spring Training begins
• February19, 2027: Start of Spring Training Opener at Detroit in Lakeland, FL
  • February 20, 2027: Spring Training Home Opener vs. Toronto Blue Jays
  • February 21, 2027: vs. Yankees
  • February 22, 2027: at Twins
  • February 23, 2027: at Red Sox
  • February 24, 2027: vs. Tigers
  • February 25, 2027: vs. Pirates
  • February 26, 2027: at Yankees
  • February 27, 2027: vs. Twins
  • February 28, 2027: at Pirates
  • March 1, 2027: at Orioles
  • March 3, 2027: vs.Yankees
  • March 4, 2027: at Tigers
  • March 5, 2027: vs. Pirates
  • March 6, 2027: vs. Blue Jays
  • March 7, 2027: at Orioles (split squad)
  • March 8, 2027: vs. Red Sox
  • March 9, 2027: at Rays
  • March 10, 2027: vs. Yankees
  • March 12, 2027: vs.Tigers
  • March 13, 2027: at Blue Jays (split squad)
  • March 14, 2027: Split Squad vs. Braves
  • March 14, 2027: Split Squad @ Orioles
  • March 15, 2027: @ Pirates
  • March 16, 2027:vs. Blue Kays
  • March 17, 2027: vs. Orioles
  • March 18, 2027:@ Braves
  • March 19, 2027: vs. Rays
  • March 20, 2027: @ Yankees Split Squad
  • March 21, 2027: @ Blue jays
  • March 22, 2027: vs. Rays
• March 25, 2027: MLB Opening Day
• March 25, 2027: Phillies Seasoner Opener at Washington
• April 1, 2027: Phillies Home Opener vs. Washington
• March 26, 2027: Start of IronPigs season
  • September 19, 2027: End of IronPigs season
• April 2. 2027: Start of Reading’s season
  • September 12, 2027: End of Reading’s season
• April 2, 2027: Start of Jersey Shore’s season
  • September 5, 2027: End of Jersey Shore’s season
• April 2, 2027: Start of Threshers season
  • September 5, 2027: End of Threshers season
• July 10, 2027: MLB All-Star Futures Game
• July 11-12, 2027: MLB First-Year Player Draft 
• July 12, 2027: Home Run Derby
• July 13, 2027: MLB All-Star Game in Chicago at Wrigley Field
• July 31, 2027: MLB trade deadline at 6:00 P.M. ET
• August 31, 2027: Post-season eligibility lists are established at 11:59 p.m. ET. To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team August 31 and remain a bona fide member through end of the applicable Postseason series.
• September 1, 2027: Active Major League player limit increased to 28 and 14 pitchers
• September 6, 2027: End of BlueClaws’ regular season
• September 6, 2027: End of Threshers’ regular season
• September 13, 2027: End of Reading’s regular season
• September 20, 2027: End of IronPigs’ regular season
• September 27, 2027: Last Day of MLB Regular Season

Note: These dates will be used unless/until notified differently.