The Winter Meetings begin on Sunday in Dallas and run through Wednesday. It’s the highlight of the offseason baseball calendar, and fans often have questions about it, so let’s tell you more about them.
Are there really meetings?
Yes, it seems that everyone in baseball has meetings. The general managers and managers have meetings to go over new rules and regulations. Public relations staffs have meetings to go over their business. Trainers, team physicians and equipment managers to discuss developments.
There’s a large trade fair where equipment managers can look at new innovations, and a job fair. Hundreds of young people who want to work in baseball wear their finest clothes and have resumes to hand out.
Experienced people in the sport who are out of work often come to the Winter Meetings, hoping to catch the eye of a prospective employer or set up interviews with teams.
Yes, there are even meetings for writers. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has its annual meeting each year. In 2022, commissioner Rob Manfred attended the meeting and made news.
Is there anything for the public to see?
The meetings draw not only job seekers, but curiosity seekers. There are no public events, but fans often hang around the large hotels where the Winter Meetings are held, hoping for a glimpse of someone notable.
Occasionally, a player meets with teams at the meetings or players looking to catch on, try to draw attention.
Last year, Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was often seen at the lobby in Nashville.
What does the media do?
Elias holds media briefings each day, generally in the late afternoon, and each of the 30 MLB managers is available for a media session. This year, Hyde’s is on Tuesday afternoon.
There are planned events, including the draft lottery, which the Orioles won’t participate in because they qualified for the postseason, and the Rule 5 draft, which concludes the Winter Meetings, on Wednesday afternoon.
Scott Boras, baseball’s top agent, holds a long media session with little notice during the Winter Meetings and makes entertaining sales pitches for his clients. Free-agent outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who reached a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles that includes an opt-out after the 2025 season, is a Boras client.
Catcher Gary Sánchez, who reportedly agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract, is not a Boras client.
At last month’s General Managers’ Meetings in San Antonio, Boras said he hoped his top pitching client, Corbin Burnes, had a “Corbin copy” of his 2024 season with the Orioles.
One year, Boras complimented former general manager Dan Duquette’s hair.
Is there actual news?
In recent years, Oriole news has been sparse, but in 2018 in Las Vegas, newly hired executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was embarrassed when a news ticker on MLB Network revealed that the team was close to hiring Brandon Hyde as the manager while Elias was holding a media session.
Hyde, who was unknown to Oriole writers, had been spotted in the lobby and was hired a few days after the Winter Meetings.
In 2022, Elias announced the signing of Kyle Gibson to a one-year, $10 million contract, and last year, closer Craig Kimbrel was signed on the final day of Winter Meetings. Perhaps he’ll make the signings of O’Neill and Sánchez official.
What could come out of the Winter Meetings?
On Sunday, the Hall of Fame’s Classic Baseball Era committee will meet to consider eight individuals for the Hall of Fame. The nominees are Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, Tommy John, Dave Parker and Luis Tiant.
John, Garvey and Parker are the only candidates alive. Donaldson was a Negro Leagues pitcher, and Harris played and managed in the Negro Leagues.
A 16-member committee, which includes Hall of Fame members Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Tony Pérez, Lee Smith, Ozzie Smith and Joe Torre, will vote. As in the BBWAA vote for recently retired players, a 75 percent vote is necessary for election.
The guess here is that Allen and Donaldson will be elected.
Can you forecast if the Orioles will sign more players, trade or draft players?
I can’t forecast if the Orioles will make more moves in Dallas or just use the meetings to set up additional moves later on in the offseason.
After Friday’s outright assignment of pitcher Thaddeus Ward to Triple-A Norfolk, they have 37 players on the 40-man roster, but that doesn’t mean they’ll participate in the Rule 5 draft. Last year was the first time since 2005 the Orioles didn’t take a player.
Once the signings of O’Neill and Sánchez become official, they’ll have 39 players on the roster.
Note: The Orioles’ top prospects will play the top prospects of the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium on March 15th at 6:05 p.m. It’s part of “Spring Breakout.” The Orioles will play Pittsburgh at Bradenton earlier that day at 1:05 p.m.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.