MLB proposes short free-agency windows and a trade freeze to reshape the offseason
Major League Baseball has offered a plan that would limit free-agent signings to a few weeks in December and again from early February, while imposing a trade ban during the intervening period.
Major League Baseball submitted a package to the players’ association that would compress free-agent activity into a brief window in late December and another in early February, with no trades allowed between those periods. The plan is linked to a cap-and-floor structure that the union has consistently opposed. Under the proposal, the quiet period would be lengthened to the Monday of the winter meetings, permitting negotiations but not contract finalization, and signings could occur only until 5 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 21 before pausing until noon Eastern on the first Monday in February.
A trade ban would apply during that pause, similar to the current postseason restriction. The league also outlined a 2027 payroll ceiling of $245.3 million, a floor of $171.2 million, and caps on individual contracts at $265 million for six years. Additional roster rule changes include reducing minor-league option limits and adjusting injured-list durations.
Why it matters
The plan could dramatically alter player mobility and team spending if adopted, affecting contracts and competitive balance.
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