The Players Association and Major League baseball have agreed to move up several dates related to free agency, allowing more time for free agents to negotiate and sign with new teams. Among the highlights:
* Players no longer have to file for free agency; it will be automatic.
* Free agents now will be able to negotiate with any team on midnight ET of the fifth day after the World Series instead of 15 days after, as it had been previously.
* Arbitration must be offered by midnight ET Nov. 23 if a club wants to keep its right to Draft-pick compensation. The previous deadline was Dec. 1. And free agents must accept by Nov. 30, as opposed to Dec. 7.
* Teams must tender contracts by Dec. 2, nine days earlier than the previous deadline.
via Muskat Ramblings.
This means the lukewarm stove is going to get even lukewarmier!