Winter meetings notebook; few results but meaningful communication

ORLANDO, Fla – The recently concluded baseball winter meetings opened in relative silence and closed the same way.

Except for titillating rumors concerning players, little was accomplished either behind closed doors or for media and fan inspection. Other than two high-profile signings, the Phillies announced a five-year deal with Kyle Schwaber for $150 million and the Orioles inked first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal, this traditional event of mass congregation went about particularly uneventful.

There was the usual array of job seekers clogging the halls within a mass complex of two combined high-priced hotels and television lights and radio broadcast booths were as prevalent as ever. All appeared to be scrambling for that elusive bit of news or a meaningful, on-air interview.

The hotel hallways became crammed with people mingling for no apparent reason and attempting to establish contacts. That’s the visual side. On another aspect, are deals finalized and significant player transactions announced?

Traditionally, that has not been the norm.

What is important lies in the method of communication and laying a foundation for important future transactions. In the past, the month of January and early February represented prime time for accomplishments.

When Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, that was finalized during the 2024 winter meetings. The only significant transactions this time were the Schwaber and Alonso signings.

“This event allows as a catalyst for conversation,” said Erik Neander, president of baseball operations for the Rays. “This involves building relationships and communicating. It’s the only time of the year when you get everybody together like this. This is a game of relationships and an opportunity to sharpen and develop those relationships and build trust.”

An insurance policy … with the Tampa Bay Rays signing veteran left-hander Steven Matz to a two-year deal worth a reported $15 million, this signaled protection for the starting rotation. Matz’s contract will pay $7.5 million per season, pending a physical.

The addition of Matz allows the Rays to acquire a safety net in case lefty Shane McClanahan is not healthy. Matz is an 11-major league veteran and has a career 60-62 in 172 starts with four clubs. His personal best was a 14-7 record with Toronto in 2021.

McClanahan, a significant starter for three seasons, was on his way to Cy Young consideration in 2023 when he went down with left arm tightness on Aug. 3. A determination was made for a second Tommy John surgery and the native of Baltimore rehabbed until the start of the 2025 spring training.

That’s when McClanahan went down again during his final start of the spring at Port Charlotte against Boston with triceps nerve damage. McClanahan did not recover to pitch in 2025, but all indications point to reporting on time, to the Rays camp in mid-February. Manager Kevin Cash will likely be waiting at the entrance of the clubhouse with a green light for full baseball activity.

Should McClanahan suffer and miss time, Matz is the back-up.

“We’ll get (McClanahan) into camp and by that time, all indications are that he is on normal build-up and progression,” Neander said. “We’re hoping for that. But, it’s been two and one-half years without throwing, and it now takes day-to-day. At this point, the prognosis is good.”

Include me … Rosters for the 2026 World Baseball Classic are in the construction stage.

With Aaron Judge, Will Smith, Kyle Schwaber, and Bobby Witt, Jr. among those committed to Team USA, add Rays’ reliever Garrett Cleavinger, a 31-year-old lefty, who compiled a 2-6 record a year ago with a 2.35 ERA. … Other members of the Tampa Bay Rays committed are third baseman Junior Caminero for Team Dominican Republic, reliever Edwin Uceta, also for team Dominican Republic, and first baseman Jonathan Aranda to Team Mexico.

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