Important dates for Guardians  fans to know in the 2025-26 MLB offseason

After a wild Guardians season that ended with a loss to the Tigers in the Wild Card Series, Cleveland’s front office is entering the offseason with some huge questions to ask. 

They’ve already made one move by bringing back backup catcher Austin Hedges, but there are still more decisions to be made. 

Should they turn the keys over to some rookies? If not, should they make a swing for a big free agent to help fortify the lineup? Which starting pitchers will make up their rotation on Opening Day next year? 

While the Guardians made the postseason in 2025, it looks like there’s a good chance that their roster could look a bit different when Opening Day rolls around next spring. 

With all that in mind, here’s a look at some important dates for Guardians fans to know this offseason. 

Important dates for Guardians fans to know in the 2025-26 MLB offseason

Qualifying offer deadline (five days after the World Series ends)

While we don’t know the exact day this will be, it’ll fall somewhere between Nov. 2 and Nov. 6. And, five days after that, teams will need to determine whether they want to extend the qualifying offers to eligible players on their roster. 

While the Guardians don’t have any impending free agents who fit that bill, they do have one decision they’ll need to make in that time frame: What to do with John Means. 

The Guardians signed John Means to a one-year, $1 million contract at spring training that included a $6 million club option for 2026. While the Guardians didn’t get a chance to see Means pitch for the Guardians this season, rolling the dice on him for $6 million next season could be a shrewd move, whether it be to use him next season or dangle him as a trade chip. 

Non-tender deadline (Nov. 21)

This year's non-tender deadline falls on Nov. 21, which is a day after the end of the three-day long Owners Meetings in New York. 

Although there hasn’t been any reporting on what the Guardians are planning to do with their arbitration-eligible players, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or two of them end up being non-tendered. Nolan Jones is due for a raise through arbitration after struggling in 2025, while injured pitchers Sam Hentges and Ben Lively are also up for arbitration. 

Expect the Guardians to make one or two moves here. 

MLB Winter Meetings (December 8-11)

This year's Winter Meetings take place in Orlando, and the Guardians should be in the thick of things once again. Last year the Guardians were the talk of the meetings when they made a couple of trades that eventually resulted in them dealing Andrés Giménez away for Luis Ortiz. 

There are always a couple huge, landscaping-altering moves made at the Winter Meetings, and the Guardians have the ammunition to either make a deal or be work their way into a multi-team deal. 

 The 2025 MLB Draft Lottery also takes place on Dec. 9. The Rule 5 Draft will take place the next day. 

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training (February 2026)

After a cold winter, the Guardians will begin their quest to win a World Series in February when pitchers and catchers report to the team’s facility in Goodyear, Arizona. While we don’t know the exact date they’ll report in 2026, they reported in 2025 on Feb. 11. 

The Guardians’ spring training opener will be later that month. They’ll begin the regular season on March 26 against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.