Important dates on the Major League Baseball calendar leading into the 2012 season:

Nov. 14-15: General managers' meetings, Milwaukee.

Nov. 14: AL and NL Rookies of the Year awarded.

Nov. 15: AL Cy Young Award awarded.

Nov. 15-16: Owners' meetings, Milwaukee.

Nov. 16: AL and NL Managers of the Year awarded

Nov. 17: NL Cy Young Award awarded

Nov. 22: AL Most Valuable Player awarded

Nov. 23: NL Most Valuable Player awarded


Nov. 23: Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.

Dec. 5-8: Winter meetings, Dallas.

Dec. 7: Last day for free agents offered salary arbitration to accept the offers.

Dec. 8: Rule 5 Draft, Dallas.

Dec. 11: Collective bargaining agreement expires.

Dec. 12: Last day for teams to offer 2012 contracts to unsigned players.

Jan. 5-15, 2012: Salary arbitration filing.

Jan. 18: Exchange of salary arbitration figures.

Feb. 1-21: Salary arbitration hearings, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Feb. 19: Voluntary reporting date to spring training for pitchers, catchers and injured players.

Feb. 24: Voluntary reporting date to spring training for other players.

March 2: Mandatory reporting date to spring training.

March 2-11: Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.

March 19: Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.

March 28-29: Japan Opening Series, Mariners vs. A's, Tokyo.