為了以後寫文章參考，將2008年大聯盟重要時程列出如下，以供參考：
MLB Important Dates
January 5-15, 2008
Salary arbitration filing period
January 8, 2008
Hall of Fame BBWAA voting announced
January 18, 2008
Exchange of salary arbitration figures
February 1-20, 2008
Salary arbitration hearings
February 14, 2008
First date injured players, pitchers and catchers may report to Spring Training
February 19, 2008
First date all players may report to Spring Training
February 26, 2008
Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players
March 2, 2008
First date to renew contracts of unsigned players
March 11, 2008
Last date to renew contracts
March 12, 2008
Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days
March 15, 2008
Last date to trade player who has exercised his right to demand a trade before he is declared an unrestricted free agent (if that player has not exercised his right to retract that demand on or before today). Note: The right to demand a trade only applies to players who signed multiyear contracts before Oct. 23, 2006.
March 22-23, 2008
The Red Sox and the A's play doubleheaders against Nippon Professional Baseball Clubs in Japan.
March 25, 2008
Opening Day: Red Sox vs. A's at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
March 26, 2008
Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2008 salary
March 29, 2008
Civil Rights Game: White Sox vs. Mets at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn.
March 30, 2008
Opening Night: Braves vs. Nationals at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
March 31, 2008
Opening Day
April 15, 2008
Jackie Robinson Day
May 11, 2008
Mother's Day: Breast Cancer Awareness
May 15, 2008
Earliest date clubs may re-sign players they unconditionally released between Aug. 31, 2007 and March 30, 2008.
June 5-6, 2008
First-Year Player Draft
July 11-15, 2008
All-Star Week, New York
July 15, 2008
All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium (New York)
July 27, 2008
Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y.
July 31, 2008
Non-waiver trade deadline (4 p.m. ET)
Aug. 31, 2008
• Any player unconditionally released between this date and Opening Day of next season may not be re-signed to a Major League contract by the releasing team until May 15 of the following season.
• Postseason eligibility lists established at midnight ET
Sept. 1, 2008
Active player limit expands from 25 to 40 players
Sept. 3, 2008
Roberto Clemente Day
Sept. 28, 2008
Final day of the 2008 regular season
Nov. 20, 2007
Day to file reserve lists for all Minor League levels and Major Leagues
Dec. 1, 2008
Last date for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked free agents in order to be eligible for compensation.
Dec. 7, 2008
Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club.
Dec. 8-11, 2008
Winter Meetings, Las Vegas
Dec. 11, 2008
Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 12, 2008
Last date to tender contracts for 2009
Important Transaction Dates
MLR = Major League Rule
CBA = Collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union.
December 12, 2007
Last day for teams to offer 2008 contracts to unsigned players, as required by Paragraph 10 (a) of the Uniform Player Contract.
January 5-15, 2008
Salary arbitration filing. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
January 18, 2008
Exchange of salary arbitration figures between MLB Labor Relations Committee and MLB Players Association.
February 1-20, 2008
Salary arbitration hearings. CBA, Article VI (F) (5).
February 14, 2008
Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers & injured players.
CBA, Article XIV (A).
February 15, 2008
End of waiver period (November 11 – February 15). Waivers secured on or after November 11, 2007, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
February 16, 2008
Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 28). Outright waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 28, 2008 (the 30th day of the season), whichever is earlier. Optional waivers secured on or after February 16 remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST April 28, 2008.
Exception: special waivers. MLR 10 (f).
February 19, 2008
Voluntary reporting date for other players.
February 26, 2008
Mandatory reporting date. CBA, Article XIV (A).
March 2-11, 2008
Clubs may renew contracts of unsigned players. Paragraph 10 (a) of Uniform Player Contract.
March 12, 2008
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay only 30 days’ termination pay. CBA, Article IX (B). (For split contracts, the Major League rate of termination pay is owed if Unconditional Release waivers are requested after 2 p.m. EST. However, the requirement for split contract termination pay does not apply for players who may not be assigned to the minor leagues without their consent and for players selected in the preceding Rule 5 draft.)
March 15, 2008
Last day to trade a player who has exercised his right to demand a trade before he is declared an unrestricted free agent. (A player has the right to demand a trade if he signed a multi-year contract before October 23, 2006, then was subsequently traded.)
March 25-26, 2008
Japan Opening Series, Boston vs. Oakland, Tokyo.
March 26, 2008
Last day (by 2 p.m. EST) to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2007 salary. (Only 45 days’ termination pay is due.) CBA, Article IX (B).
March 30, 2008
Official opening of 2008 season. Opening Night (Atlanta at Washington).
All clubs must reduce their active rosters to 25 players before March 30, 2008.
March 31, 2008
Opening Day.
April 28, 2008
End of waiver period (February 16 – April 28). Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2008, expire at 5 p.m. EST.
April 29, 2008
Beginning of new waiver period (April 29 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after April 29 (the 31st day of the season) remain in effect through 5 p.m. EST July 31. MLR 10 (c)(4). After April 29, outright assignments to the minor leagues may be made only with outright waivers in effect.
May 15, 2008
Earliest date a club may re-sign a player it unconditionally released between midnight Aug. 31, 2007 and March 30, 2008. MLR 8 (i) (2).
May 29, 2008
Start of closed period, First Year Player Draft.
June 5-6, 2008
First Year Player Draft. MLR 4.
June 16, 2008
First day a club may trade a player who was signed after the expiration of the 15-day free agency election period. A Club may assign the contract prior to this date for other player contracts and/or a cash consideration of no more than $50,000 if the player gives his written consent. CBA, Article XX (B) (6).
July 11-15, 2008
All Star week, Yankee Stadium, New York.
July 31, 2008
Deadline (4 p.m. EST) for trading players without waivers in effect. MLR 10 (b)(1).
End of waiver period (April 29 – July 31). Waivers secured on or after April 29, 2008, expire at 5 p.m. EST. Major League Waivers in effect between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST may only be used for optional assignments.
August 1, 2008
Beginning of new waiver period (August 1 – September 28). Trade waivers secured on or after August 1, 2008, remain in effect until 5 p.m. EST, September 28, 2008 (the last day of the 2008 season). Outright waivers secured on or after August 1, 2008, remain in effect until midnight EST, August 31, 2008. MLR 10(c)(4)(iv).
Players may be traded only after Major League waivers have been secured in the current waiver period. MLR 10 (b) (1).
August 15, 2008
Last date (midnight EST) to sign players selected in June Rule 4 Draft, except for college seniors, who may sign at any time.
Last date to bring player up for "full trial" to avoid draft-excluded status.
MLR 6 (e).
August 31, 2008
Post-season eligibility lists are established at midnight. MLR 40. To be eligible, a player must be a bona fide member of a qualifying team on Aug. 31 and must remain a bona fide member until the end of the applicable post-season series.
Any player unconditionally released between midnight August 31, 2008, and Opening Day of the 2009 season may not be re-signed to a Major League contract by the releasing club until May 15, 2009. MLR 8 (i) (2).
September 1, 2008
Active Major League rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.
September 28, 2008
Close of the 2008 regular season.
September 29, 2008
All players on optional assignment must be recalled. MLR 11 (a).
First day players may be traded without waivers in effect.
October, 2008 (TBA)
Times and dates TBA.
Close of 2008 World Series
The day after the end of the World Series marks the beginning of the 15-day period during which eligible players may elect free agency or demand a trade. Former club retains exclusive negotiating rights until 15-day filing period expires. A player who has filed for free agency may engage in general discussions with other clubs but may not discuss contract details or sign with them until the filing period ends. CBA, Article XX (B).
4th day after 2008 World Series
Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until 25 days prior to the opening of the 2009 season. MLR 10 (e) (6).
16th day after 2008 World Series
First day Major League free agents may negotiate and sign with a club other than their former club. Article XX (B)(2)(c).
November 10, 2008
End of waiver period (August 1 - November 10). Waivers secured on or after August 1, 2008, expire at 5 p.m. EST. MLR 10 (c)(4).
November 11, 2008
Beginning of new waiver period (November 11, 2008 - February 15, 2008). Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2008, remain in effect until February 15, 2009.
Exception: special waivers.
November 20, 2008
Deadline day for clubs to file reserve lists for Major League club and all Minor League levels.
Last date to make an off-season outright assignment of an injured player to the Minor Leagues if the player does not meet the requirements listed in Article XIX (C) (b) of the CBA.
December 1, 2008
Last date (midnight EST) for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation if those free agents sign elsewhere.
December 7, 2008
Last date (midnight EST) for player who declared XX(B) free agency to accept offer of arbitration from his former club.
December 8, 2008
Deadline (5 p.m. EST) to outright a player off the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 Draft.
December 8-11, 2008
Winter Meetings, Las Vegas.
December 11, 2008
Rule 5 Draft.
December 12, 2008
Last date (midnight EST) to tender 2009 contracts to unsigned players.
資料來源：
旅美球員 (32)