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The Baseball Winter Meetings converged on Dallas this week, bringing representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball and 160 Minor League Baseball organizations, job seekers, players, agents and over 1500 national media members. This week's convention was the 110th winter meetings and the sixth time it has been held inside the massive Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas.
There was a trade show, awards luncheon and a gala over at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as part of the festivities. But the main action centered around the big name MLB free agents and the scene inside the bars at the Anatole. When the sun was out, we hung out in the Atrium in the ironically titled "Counter Offer" eatery situated near the reflecting pools and listened to the constant chatter about three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and where he might end up.
The MLB Network stage was the best place to spot big names as they broadcast throughout the day. I had been on the property for less than five minutes when they had Dodgers manger Don Mattingly and Rangers president Nolan Ryan on air. For a baseball fan, it is impossible to beat the MLB crew of Greg Amsinger, Harold Reynolds, Peter Gammons, Kevin Millar, Chris Rose, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal. And one of the biggest 'splashes' of the Winter Meetings was caught on MLB's camera here.
The ESPN Baseball Tonight stage was across the atrium and also had baseball movers and shakers appear. ESPN was not on air as long as the MLB Network, giving their personalities such as John Kruk and Terry Francona the opportunity to visit with attendees.
The action at the Anatole went up a notch during the evening as the Media Grill + Bar in the atrium was near capacity while the deal-making continued with all of the talk centered around the Marlins. We ventured over to the hotel's Tower, passing the Yes Network, SNY and NESN booths on our way to the Gossip Bar. This chic bar had a completely different vibe as it was much more of a 'Dallas-type' social scene with less 'shop talk.'
Among the big names we crossed paths with over our few days in Dallas were Angels outfielders Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman, Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda, Marlins newly signed shortstop Jose Reyes and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Autograph hounds were lingering nearby with baseballs in hand, but the bigger move seemed to be fans getting their pictures via their cell phone cameras.
When all was said and done on the business end, the Miami Marlins had a $191 million spending spree that included Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle only to be outshone on the final day by the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim. The Angels stunned everybody and spent $331 million to land the services of Albert Pujols and former Texas Rangers ace C.J. Wilson.
The Winter Meetings were best summed up by Dallas Sports Network.tv founder Ted Price when he tweeted that they "are like an LA party: people talk to each other but continue to scan the room for someone better to talk to."
One thing is for certain -- after the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to the then-record $252 million deal in 2000 and this week's $254 million contract the Angels gave Pujols -- the Baseball Winter Meetings are indeed bigger when they are held in Texas!
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