Through Thursday — Free agent filing period.

Dec. 1 — Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.

Dec. 2-5 — Major League Baseball Players Association executive board meeting, Orlando, Fla.

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

Dec. 8-11 — Winter meetings, Las Vegas.

Dec. 8 — Hall of Fame Veterans Committee vote announced, Las Vegas.

Dec. 12 — Last day for teams to offer 2009 contracts to unsigned players.<

2009

Jan 5-15 — Salary arbitration filing.

Jan. 19 or 20 — Exchange of salary arbitration figures.

Feb. 1-21 — Salary arbitration hearings, Phoenix.

Feb. 14 — Mandatory reporting date for players on World Baseball Classic rosters of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan unless they have reported directly to their national teams; mandatory reporting date for pitchers and catchers on provisional rosters of other WBC teams; voluntary reporting date for non-WBC pitchers, catchers and injured players.

Feb. 17 — Mandatory reporting date for remaining position players on WBC rosters; voluntary reporting date for non-WBC position players.

Feb. 22 — Mandatory reporting date for non-WBC players.

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

March 5-23 — World Baseball Classic.

March 18— Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.

April 1 — Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2008 salary.

April 5 — Opening day, active rosters reduced to 25 players.

June 9-10 — Amateur draft.

July 14 — All-Star game, St. Louis.

July 26 — Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y.

July 31 — Last day to trade a player without securing waivers.

Aug. 15 — Last day to sign selections from 2009 amateur draft who have not exhausted college eligibility.

Sept. 1 — Active rosters expand to 40 players.

Dec. 7-10 — Winter meetings, Indianapolis.