Tomorrow is Thanksgiving which means that the MLB Winter Meetings are right around the corner. This year the venue is back on the East Coast and scheduled for December 7–11 in Orlando, Florida, at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. The meetings are a major offseason event where trades, free agent signings, and rumors often generate. 

So far, the Washington Nationals have not been mentioned in one rumor. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins are creating some buzz. So far, Nats’ President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni has been in stealth mode. There has not been a player linked to the Nats in any reputable rumor so far. Will that change?

There are several upscale hotels around Bonnet Creek that will be utilized for different events that include the career fair. MLB Network will be the official TV network for the event and will be on-site.

There is no high drama this year for the Nats in the MLB Draft Lottery that netted the team the first pick in the 2025 draft. The Nats are set to pick at No. 11 in the 2026 draft because of a stipulation in the last CBA that doesn’t allow “big market” teams from being in the draft lottery in consecutive years. Only winning 66-games during the 2025 season did not give the Nats any “tanking” advantage.

The Rule-5 draft will be a day to watch on the Nats’ calendar on Dec. 10. With the Nats picking near the top at No. 3 overall, they will get to pick after Colorado and the Chicago White Sox. Of course there is Blaze Jordan and Daniel Susac buzz. Lesser known names available are Blake Burkhalter, RHP, Braves and Harrison Cohen, RHP, Yankees. Both could fit in as relievers. Of course most Rule-5 picks fail miserably and look no further than the Nats taking RHP Thaddeus Ward and RHP Evan Reifert. The Nats did get Nasim Nunez in the Rule-5 draft so they are kind of 1-for-3.

Of course last year the White Sox snagged Shane Smith in the Rule-5 draft, and he was named an All-Star in that rookie season putting up 29 starts with a 3.81 ERA and finishing 10th in ROY voting. And the White Sox fired their pitching coach, Ethan Katz, after the season. Go figure.

As we approach the Rule-5 draft, we will add some more names and stats. But again, for the Nationals, this might be a quiet Winter Meetings except for the Rule-5 draft. Both Toboni and manager Blake Butera will participate in interviews on MLB Network as well as on the radio via Sirius/XM on the MLB Network Radio. They will also do a media scrum that should be good for some quotes.

• Main MLB Winter Meetings: December 7–11
• Location: Orlando, Florida at the JW Marriott

• Wyndham Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort: Hosts some events, including the Baseball Career Conference and the MLBCMA Trade Show 

Key events and activities

• Hall of Fame and Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee Vote: Announcement on December 7
• MLB Draft Lottery: December 9
• Rule 5 Draft: December 10
• MLBCMA Trade Show: December 9–10
• Baseball Career Conference: December 7–9 hosted by Sports Management Worldwide
• Take the Field Program: A two-day event for those interested in front office careers