Free agency begins
The general managers' meetings begin Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz., and with them comes the start of the free-agency season. Here are some things to know:
• As of Thursday morning, all eligible players became free agents.
• Teams have until Monday to extend one-year qualifying offers ($17.2 million) to eligible free agents.
• Free agents can begin signing with any team at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.
• Nov. 14 is the deadline for free agents to accept qualifying offers from their old clubs.
• This free-agent class includes sluggers Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and Mark Trumbo, and Aroldis Chapman figures to become baseball's richest reliever. There won't be much in the way of starting pitching.