The league released its 2018 offseason calendar, which details what roster moves teams can make and when. While FC Cincinnati fans are circling December 11 on their calendars — when they'll learn which five MLS players they'll land via the Expansion Draft — the following dates will impact all MLS teams as they look to build toward 2019.
| 2018 MLS Offseason Calendar | |
|---|---|
| November 26 11:00 AM MT Monday | Option Exercise Deadline Clubs no longer competing in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs must notify the League Office in writing of 1) players whose options they are exercising and/or 2) players who are receiving bona fide offers, announced by the teams. |
| November 30 11:00 AM MT Friday | Option Exercise Deadline for Non-MLS Cup Participants The clubs that fall out of the conference finals must notify the League Office in writing of 1) players whose options they are exercising and/or 2) players who are receiving bona fide offers, announced by the clubs. |
| December 9 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM MT Sunday | Half-Day Trade Window Following a three-month roster freeze, MLS clubs may begin making adjustments to their rosters. This is a four-hour window in which clubs may sign and trade players (both non-Re-Entry Draft eligible players and Re-Entry Draft eligible). Trade tracker |
| December 9 10:00 AM MT Sunday | Option Exercise Deadline for MLS Cup Participants Clubs that compete in MLS Cup must notify the League Office in writing of 1) players whose options they are exercising and/or 2) players who are receiving bona fide offers. |
| December 9 11:00 AM MT Sunday | Blackout Period begins Blackout Period begins whereby clubs may no longer sign and/or trade their own draft-eligible players until conclusion of Expansion Draft. |
| December 11 12:00 PM MT Tuesday | Expansion Draft Watch live in the MLS app or on MLSsoccer.com. FC Cincinnati may select up to five players from the eligible MLS player pool. Only a single player can be drafted from any one club. Expansion Draft Rules |
| December 11 1:00 PM MT Tuesday | Free Agency Begins Clubs may engage with players, other than their own, that are eligible for Free Agency. Eligible players include Out of Contract and Option Decline players that meet the age and years-of-service parameters. |
| December 12 2:00 PM MT Wednesday | 2018 MLS Waiver Draft Consisting of players who have been waived by clubs and do not meet minimum years of service requirement for Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency; the Waiver Draft is conducted in reverse order of 2018 season finish, taking into account postseason performance, with expansion FC Cincinnati selecting last. Waiver Draft Rules |
| December 14 1:00 PM MT Friday | 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 1 The Re-Entry Draft (both stages) is conducted in reverse order of 2018 season finish, taking into account postseason performance, with expansion club FC Cincinnati selecting last. Re-Entry Draft Rules |
| December 20 12:00 PM MT Thursday | 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 2 The Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 is conducted in the same format as Stage 1 and consists of MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1. Not necessarily all unselected Stage 1 players will be available as players may re-sign with their previous club between stages or may opt out of the process. Teams selecting players in Stage 2 may negotiate new contracts with the player. Re-Entry Draft Rules |
