This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

We’re one week into 2024, which means we’re getting closer and closer to Marlins baseball.

While president of baseball operations Peter Bendix finalizes the front office and roster, and manager Skip Schumaker does the same for his coaching staff, let’s take a look at some important dates from now until Opening Day:

Friday: Deadline to exchange arbitration figures
Miami has 10 arbitration-eligible players, led by batting champion Luis Arraez. If the sides can't agree on a contract by Friday, then both must put forth a salary figure for the upcoming season, with a hearing scheduled between Jan. 29 and Feb. 16. A panel of arbitrators will then listen to each side’s case and select one of the two salary figures (nothing in between) as the player’s salary for the 2024 season.

Jan. 15: International signing period opens
Top prospects from around the world will be eligible to sign with big league clubs once the international signing period begins. Last January, Miami inked outfielder Janero Miller of the Bahamas, the No. 16 prospect on the international top 50 list, as one of the organization's initial 32 international signings. Check out MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 50 international prospects.

Jan. 23: BBWAA Hall of Fame voting results announced
Former Marlin Gary Sheffield is on the ballot for the final time, and he’ll need at least 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America electorate to secure his spot in Cooperstown. In 2023, he was named on 55 percent of the ballots. During his six-year tenure with the Marlins, Sheffield hit 122 of his 509 homers, finished third in National League MVP Award voting, won two Silver Slugger Awards and made two All-Star teams. 

Jan. 26: FanFest presented by ADT
Fans can expect player meet and greets, interactive games, behind-the-scenes tours, fireworks and more from 4-10 p.m. ET at loanDepot park. Claim your complimentary ticket here.

Jan. 27: New York Baseball Writers’ Dinner
Schumaker will travel to New York, where he will be presented with his NL Manager of the Year Award.

Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training
Spring camp begins in Jupiter, Fla., on Valentine’s Day.

Feb. 19: Full squad reports
Arraez and the rest of the position players will join the pitchers and catchers in 2024 season preparation.

Feb. 24: Grapefruit League opener
The Marlins open Spring Training against the split-squad Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Miami will play 30 exhibition games this spring.

March 15: Spring Breakout
Marlins and Cardinals top prospects will square off at 2:05 p.m. in a seven-inning game that opens a doubleheader between the two organizations.

March 28: Opening Day
The Marlins will host the Pirates for a four-game series at loanDepot park to start the 2024 season. Miami clinched its 2023 postseason berth in Pittsburgh on the second-to-last day of the season.