What We Learned at the 2025 Winter Meetings

The 2025 Winter Meetings are officially in the books, one that saw the signings of several notable free agents. However, the offseason is far from done, and what happened over the last few days should set the tone for the winter. Here’s a look at what we learned this week.

Going, going, gone

If there’s one position that there has been a rush on thus far, it’s relievers. Heading into the middle of December, most of the best high-leverage arms are now off the board.

It started last month when the Braves re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias. Atlanta dipped back after the Winter Meetings, as the team finalised a deal to bring in former Padres closer Robert Suarez to, presumably, work behind the incumbent Iglesias for now.

Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams were signed after Thanksgiving. And on December 9, the big bomb went off in the reliever market when Edwin Diaz joined the reigning World Series champion LA Dodgers.

Granted, there are still good relievers on the market. Arguably, the best is Pete Fairbanks, who notched 75 saves over the last three seasons with the Rays. While he may not be an elite swing-and-miss pitcher, Fairbanks throws hard, generates ground balls, and works all quadrants of the zone.

There’s also the possibility of another major offseason trade in the reliever market. We already saw one when Jose Ferrer, who possesses one of the best buzzsaw sinkers in the game, was traded to Seattle. Could Trevor Megill, who has two years of team control left, be a possibility?

Abner Uribe assumed the mantle as closer late in the season when Megill was injured and didn’t cede it once the latter returned. It would track with Milwaukee’s past moves.

But if there’s one thing that we’ve learned over the past few trade deadlines, it’s that teams want multiple high-leverage arms to shut down the best of the best come playoff time. That trend continues this winter.

Miller to stick as reliever

Speaking of relievers, Mason Miller will stay as one. New Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed that Miller won’t move to the rotation, nor will Adrian Morejon or David Morgan.

The Morejon one isn’t much of a shock. Even though Morejon has a starters-esque pitch arsenal, the reality was that he was the team’s best left-handed reliever. It’s also worth noting that Morejon was a starter at one point before the team opted to stick him in the bullpen full-time.

Miller was a different story. The tall right-hander came up with the then-Oakland Athletics in 2023 as a starting pitcher. But to keep him healthy, the Athletics shifted him into a bullpen role, where he thrived.

Where the intrigue with Miller potentially moving back to the rotation came in the summer when the Padres acquired him. San Diego gave up a lot to get him, as the Padres’ package included star prospect Leo De Vries. Not to mention, there was a need for starters beyond 2026. Dylan Cease and Michael King went to free agency, and that need got even deeper when Yu Darvish needed offseason surgery.

Still, the Padres will employ the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. With Suarez gone, Miller will very likely be the Padres’ 2026 roster.

Can the Orioles be the 2026 version of Toronto?

Perhaps.

The Blue Jays, for reference, finished with the worst record in the AL East with a 74-88 mark. This past season, it was an injury-worn Orioles team that went 75-87. However, the Orioles — much like Toronto last winter — have been highly aggressive to make the most of their existing core.

Baltimore traded away Grayson Rodriguez to get power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward. This past week, Pete Alonso joined on a five-year deal. Not to mention, the O’s also brought in Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge for the bullpen.

The Orioles last season were able to hit for power. The problem, though, was that things often didn’t line up for the O’s. Baltimore finished tied for 11th in total home runs last season — but 24th in runs scored.

With the new additions in Baltimore, the Orioles have the potential to be a very loud team. Baltimore already had Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg in place, plus Samuel Basallo. We know what Colton Cowser can do, despite his down 2025 season. The same can be said for oft-injured outfielder Tyler O’Neill.

The big question for the Orioles now, though, is whether the team can add more depth to its starting pitching. After all, teams generally go through more than five starters in a single season. For reference, 10 Orioles made four or more starts for the team last season.

Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, and Dean Kremer make up most of that rotation. Brandon Young and Cade Povich are among the others who will fight for a rotation spot. Will that be enough? Can someone else, like Trey Gibson or Juaron Watts-Brown, work their way in next season?

Time will tell.

Some contenders remain quiet

Each of the last two winters, the Yankees had already made a major splash to this point. Back in 2023, the Yankees swung big and traded for Juan Soto. And last winter, Max Fried was signed to a massive deal in free agency.

So far, it’s been quiet for the Yankees. General manager Brian Cashman stated that the team has been engaged in both the free agent and trade markets. However, aside from a Rule 5 Draft selection and Trent Grisham taking his qualifying offer, those have been the only two notable 26-man roster moves.

Obviously, it would make sense to target Cody Bellinger. Bellinger fit in tremendously well last year with the Yanks, as he hit for power and took advantage of the short porch in right. On top of that, he’s a strong defender who solidified that outfield group.

The problem, though, is that Bellinger is A) coming off another strong season, his second in three years, and B) he has the opportunity to cash in for a long-term deal.

Other contending teams that’ve been relatively quiet include the Astros, the Phillies — who re-signed Kyle Schwarber during the meetings — and the Padres.