Winter Meetings Day 4: Meetings End With a Whimper and Many Unanswered Questions
The winter meetings for Major League Baseball have ended. Day Four was disappointing, with only a series of minor moves. After the winter meetings, there are still a lot of unanswered questions that will receive attention in January and February.
It is worth wondering if teams were somewhat reluctant to make trades or sign free agents because next season may be canceled due to a lockout. There are still several marquee free agents remaining, and there are rumored to be some big trades brewing. All the latest is here. Do you think that more moves in baseball will happen now that the winter meetings are over?
Winter Meetings Day 4
Robert Suarez Signs With Braves
In probably the biggest news of the final day of the winter meetings, Closer Robert Suarez has signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. Suarez, who led the National League last season with 40 saves in 45 chances, became a free agent in November after opting out of $8 million options for 2026 and 2027.
Suarez took the reins as the closer for the San Diego Padres over the past two seasons and established himself as one of the game’s best at that role, making two All-Star teams, posting a 2.87 earned run average, and saving a major-league-leading 76 games. Suarez struck out 75 batters in 69.2 innings last season while sporting a career-low 5.9% walk rate.
Suarez is a nice piece for the Braves. He solidifies the back of their bullpen. It is important to note that the Braves, who were beset with a host of injuries, were probably the most disappointing team in Major League Baseball last season. Things like injuries tend to even out, so look for the Braves to bounce back next season.
Mark Leiter Jr. Signs 1-Year Contract With Oakland Athletics
In what might be the second biggest news og thw winter meetings, former New York Yankees Relief Pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. signed a one-year free agent contract with the Athletics. Leiter, 34, was non-tendered by the New York Yankees this offseason after compiling a 4.84 earned run average in 59 appearances in 2025.
He will be joining his fifth major league team as he enters the seventh season of his career after breaking into the big leagues with the Phillies in 2017. He has a career 4.60 earned run average on 270 games, most of them as a reliever.
Leiter’s best year came with the Chicago Cubs in 2023 when he appeared in a career-high 69 games. He was traded to the Yankees the following season and thrust into the playoffs after an injury opened a roster spot for him in the American League Championship Series. He appeared in four World Series games that year without giving up a run. Despite that successful World Series run against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Leiter Jr. was a disappointment with the Yankees.
Hoby Milner Signs With the Chicago Cubs
Free agent left-handed Reliever Hoby Milner is in agreement with the Chicago Cubs on a one-year, $3.75 million contract. Milner, who turns 35 in January, pitched last season for the Texas Rangers but previously was with the Milwaukee Brewers under current Cubs Manager Craig Counsell.
The veteran has a career 3.82 earned run average over nine seasons, including four with the Brewers from 2021 to 2024. In 2023, he appeared in 73 games and compiled a 1.82 earned run average for Counsell in the manager’s last year in Milwaukee.
Conclusion
That is all of the news from the fourth day of the winter meetings. There was a lack of big moves on this fourth day of the winter meetings. There are a lot of moves yet to be made; it will be interesting to see if the hot stove has some warmth in the winter months.
