Important offseason dates for awards, Hot Stove season
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This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman's Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ATLANTA -- Once the Rays and Brewers conclude the World Series, we’ll enter the November flurry, a period filled with awards announcements and action on both the free-agent and trade markets.
Let’s start with some key dates for MLB’s top awards (all times ET):
Nov. 1 (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.): Rawlings Gold Glove Awards announcement
First baseman Matt Olson, utility man Mauricio Dubón and center fielder Michael Harris II are all finalists at their respective positions.
Nov. 2: Louisville Slugger announces Silver Slugger finalists
Nov. 2 (MLB Network, 6 p.m.): BBWAA Awards finalists announced
This includes AL/NL finalists for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young Award, Reliever of the Year and Most Valuable Player
Nov. 9 (MLB Network, 7 p.m.): BBWAA Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards
Didier Fuentes isn’t expected to win. But the announcement will reveal how many down-ballot votes the Braves reliever received.
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Nov. 10 (MLB Network, 7 p.m.): BBWAA Manager of the Year Awards
Before assuming Milwaukee skipper Pat Murphy will be the NL’s winner for a third straight season, remember the votes were cast before the postseason began. So, the Brewers reaching the World Series had no impact on the balloting. There’s still reason to think Walt Weiss could be given this honor.
Nov. 11 (MLB Network, 7 p.m.): Cy Young Award and Reliever of the Year Awards
Chris Sale might not best Jacob Misiorowski in the NL Cy Young balloting, but there’s a strong chance he finishes among the top three.
Nov. 11 (MLB Network, 9 p.m.): MLB Awards from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas
Awards will include the Hank Aaron Award, the Comeback Players of the Year, the Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the Year, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year, the selections for the All-MLB First and Second Teams and the MLB Executive of the Year Award.
Nov. 12 (MLB Network, 7 p.m.): BBWAA Most Valuable Player Awards
Olson’s candidacy faded during the regular season’s final two months. The most interesting Braves angle might be how many down-ballot votes Sale receives from voters who place an emphasis on players who provide the most value to their respective teams.
Nov. 17: Silver Slugger Awards winners announced
HOT STOVE SEASON
First day after the end of the World Series: Eligible players become free agents
The Braves’ top free agents are Dubón and right-handers Tyler Mahle and Raisel Iglesias. There should be interest in re-signing each of these players.
Right-hander Joe Jiménez and left-handers Martin Pérez and Brent Suter also might return.
The team’s other free agents are shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, outfielder Lane Thomas and designated hitters Dominic Smith and Rowdy Tellez.
Fifth day after the end of the World Series (5 p.m. ET): “Quiet period” ends
At this point, free agents can negotiate and sign with any club. This is also the last date for the former club to tender a qualifying offer to eligible free agents.
It seems unlikely the Braves will provide the one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to any of the team’s free agents.
The Braves will also need to exercise the options for Ronald Acuña Jr. ($17 million) and Ozzie Albies ($7 million) within five days after the conclusion of the World Series. There’s no reason to think either of these options would be declined.
Nov. 10-12: General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas
Nov. 17 (4 pm ET): Deadline for players to accept a qualifying offer
Nov. 20: Tender deadline
The Braves will have until this date to decide whether they will tender contracts to their six arbitration-eligible players: right-handers Bryce Elder, James Karinchak and Michael Grove; left-handers Dylan Lee and Joey Wentz; and infielder Luke Williams.