What do you do during the offseason?

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

There's probably no question I get asked more frequently than that one. I'm not sure what people think I do -- take a three-month vacation or go hibernate in my house.

My answer to the question is: Actually, I do quite a bit. Sure, there's a lot less traveling involved, and if I'm lucky, I get some nights and weekends free for a change. But as any true baseball fan knows, the news keeps flowing 24/7/365 (well, maybe not on Christmas, if we're lucky).

The offseason has now officially started, meaning the hot stove season is about to get into full swing. Below you'll see a list of important dates to keep handy over the next few months as we work our way closer to Bradenton, Fla., for Spring Training 2010.

(On a side note... the Spring Training schedule/dates have not been released yet, but expect for them to be made public soon).

IMPORTANT DATES:

• November 5: Players can file for free agency

This is today, of course, and marks the first day of a 15-day period in which players with enough Major League service time can begin filing for free agency.

This doesn't affect the Pirates directly because there are no players on the club that can become free agents. Other teams with players bound for free agency have this 15-day window to also negotiate exclusively with its players.

• November 20: Free agent pool opens

That exclusive period for negotiations ends on this day, giving all teams the ability to talk with all eligible free agents. Let the madness begin...

• November 20: Deadline to set Major League and Minor League rosters

This will affect the Rule 5 Draft that happens a few weeks later during the Winter Meetings. Teams have until this date to set tweak its 40-man roster. After Nov. 20, any players left off of the Major League 40-man roster who have played four years in the Minors (if drafted when 19 or older) or five years in the Minors (if drated when 18 or younger) are eligible to be snatched up in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Pirates do have some decisions to make before this date. The Pirates have one vacancy on their 40-man roster and have a number of players that are expected to be added: Evan Meek (60-day DL), Jose Ascanio (60-day DL),  Brad Lincoln (Rule 5 eligible), Gorkys Hernandez (Rule 5 eligible) and Bryan Morris (Rule 5 eligible).

• December 1: Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to receive compensation

Teams who have players that are determined to be Type A or Type B free agents (status is determined through this nifty Elias point system) have the opportunity to offer those players arbitration. If the player accepts, the two sides then are bound to negotiate. If the player declines, the team then receives either one or two compensation Draft picks in 2010 from the team that eventually signs this player.

Again, this does not affect the Pirates this year since they have no free agents.

• December 7-10: Winter Meetings

Baseball's annual rumor mill extravaganza kicks of in Indy for three days of 'he said, she said' and then culminates with the Rule 5 Draft. The Winter Meetings actually sound much more glamorous to those who never go. The reality is, it's a lot of shooting down nonsensical rumors and watching baseball writers go crazy amid speculation.

The final day of the Winter Meetings is when the Rule 5 Draft is held. The Pirates have made a selection in each of GM Neal Huntington's first two years, so it's likely they will again.

• December 12: Deadline for teams to tender a contract to arbitration-eligble players

Two days after the Winter Meetings end, teams have to make final decisions about whether to tender a contract to players that are eligible for arbitration. Players who aren't tendered contracts become free agents. Those that are then have the ability to negotiate with the team in hopes of trying to avoid a February arbitration hearing. 

The Pirates have four arbitration-eligible players: Matt Capps, Ronny Cedeno, Zach Duke and Jeff Karstens (Super 2). As things stand now, I'd expect the Pirates to offer a contract to each one.

That should take you through the end of 2009 in terms of hot stove hot dates. Now the only question left: how many days until Spring Training?

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB