There is, of course, no such thing as an offseason in our favorite sport. There is a regular season, followed by the postseason.

Then comes the parade season -- very brief, very exclusive, this time to the Philadelphia Phillies -- after which we dive headlong into the split seasons of business and awards.

Think of the next few months as a joyful carousel. At every spin, many of the game's biggest names jump on or off. Some even grab the brass ring, both those that come with plaudits and those with dollar signs followed by many zeroes.

Ahh, yes: Free agency, trophy hardware, contract negotiations ... all in a between-seasons break climaxed by disclosure of the newest arrivals (if any) at baseball's ultimate rest stop, Cooperstown's Hall of Fame.

Got the calendar and that red pen ready? Here are the dates to circle:

• Oct. 30 - Nov. 13: Free-agency filing period, which began with the last out of the World Series and lasts for 15 days.

This span is also significant as the exclusive negotiating window for the free agents' 2008 teams. However, historically few free agents can be dissuaded from the open market: A year ago, only six of the nearly 200 players who filed for free agency re-upped with their teams through this window.

• Nov. 3-6: General Managers Meetings, Dana Point, Calif.

No longer the administrative, low-profile conclave it once was, but now an important needs-and-baits market-setter. Last year at this event, the Marlins broadcast that Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis were available.

One development worth tracking this time: Will several controversial World Series umpires' calls move GMs to consider more liberal use of Instant Replay? Also, the coming-out of new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik. Meanwhile, former Seattle GM Bill Bavasi will attend as a special assistant to the Reds' Walt Jocketty.

• Nov. 5-18: Awards weeks.

"Envelope, please." From the American League Gold Glove Team (Nov. 5) through the AL Most Valuable Player (Nov. 18), trophies and plaques galore as the outstanding performers of 2008 take turns on the stage.

• Nov. 20: Deadline for clubs to file Minor League and Major League reserve lists -- players protected from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

• Dec. 1: Deadline for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their ranked free agents -- who then will have six days to decided whether to accept or decline.

Subtitle this "Risky Business." The primary motive for making the arbitration offer is to ensure compensation from another club signing away Class "A" or "B" free agents. But the original club runs the risk of a player it doesn't need or can't afford accepting the offer, and thus being locked into its roster and its payroll.

Real-life example: Say Garret Anderson, whose 2009 option has been declined by the Angels, files for free agency and is ranked (the Elias Sports Bureau compiles the rankings, accorded the leading players in a same-position comparison of big leaguers). If the Angels can't re-sign one of their iconic players beforehand, do they protect themselves by offering arbitration? Not likely -- they could be looking at a salary greater than the $14 million option they declined, given Anderson's 2008 salary ($12 million) and performance (.293, 15, 84 ).

• Dec. 5: The executive board of the players union holds its annual meeting, in Orlando, Fla.

This is ordinarily an under-the-radar event but, if there are great enough concerns, it can yield proposals which are taken to ownership. Possible topic this time around: Amending rules to explicitly state that no postseason game may be shortened by weather, regardless of the delay length.

• Dec. 7: Deadline for free agents to accept their 2008 clubs' arbitration offer.

A relatively low-impact day: A year ago, the only three players to accept the offer were Michael Barrett (from the Padres), Mark Loretta (Astros) and Andy Pettitte (Yankees).

• Dec. 8-11: Winter Meetings, Las Vegas, Nev.

Baseball's annual traveling trade mart finally pulls into the perfect reflection of the risks regularly taken by gambling GMs. They'll all be betting on the come, and let all the other puns fly, too. Whatever happens in Vegas definitely won't stay in Vegas -- the exception being any players the Blue Jays might take in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft for their Triple-A 51s.

• Dec. 8: Announcement of the latest voting results by the Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee, on-site at the Winter Meetings.

• Dec. 11: Rule 5 Draft.

The traditional curtain-dropper of the Winter Meetings, it is increasingly becoming a bargain-hunters' haven.

For the $50,000 fee (half of which is refundable if the drafted player is not on the season-opening 25-man roster), teams have recently picked such unprotected gems out of the crowd as Johan Santana (by the Marlins from the Astros in 1999), Josh Hamilton (by the Reds from Tampa Bay in 2006) and Shane Victorino (twice, most recently by the Phillies from the Dodgers in 2004).

•: Early December: Hall of Fame ballot blast.

Voting-eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America receive the mailed ballots for 2009 election. Newcomers to the ballot include cousins Mo and Greg Vaughn, David Cone and Rickey Henderson.

Henderson holds all-time records for steals (1,406) and runs (2,295), but his greatest accomplishment might be finally qualifying for Hall of Fame election; he was still playing independent Minor League ball, seeking a return to The Show, in August 2005.

• Dec. 12: Deadline to offer contracts to rostered players (unofficially also known as Elvis Presley Day; "Love Me Tender, Love Me Do ...")

Players not tendered contracts join the free-agent scrum.

• Jan. 5 (unconfirmed): Announcement of Hall of Fame election results, traditionally made at the beginning of the new year's first full week.

• Jan. 5-15: Filing period for players eligible for salary arbitration.

Rhetorical bureaucracy in action, since everyone eligible to file will do so. "Let's see: I can do arbitration, but I'd rather not." Hasn't happened yet, never will.

• Jan. 19: Players and management representatives formally exchange salary figures filed for arbitration.

This normally sets off a whirlwind of signings, between parties whose numbers are close and who simply split the difference.

• Feb. 1-21: Salary arbitration hearings, Phoenix.

For those who couldn't settle otherwise. But very few cases actually reach the table; a year ago, only eight of the 110 filed.

• Feb. 14, 17: Do we hear a drum roll? Spring Training reporting dates for position players, pitchers on World Baseball Classic rosters.

• Feb. 22: Mandatory reporting date for non-World Baseball Classic players.

The carousel just picks up steam ... and pass the sunscreen.