December 11

Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg concedes that plans to build a new ballpark in the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa, FL, announced with much fanfare a year ago and again last July, are dead in the water, as financing is not available, something Commissioner Rob Manfred had pointed out a day earlier. That means the team will play in outdated Tropicana Field at least until 2024. Sternberg says the team is “down to its last strike” as time is running out to find a solution to the ballpark issues that have plagued the Rays since their inception.

During the annual winter meetings in Las Vegas, NV, the Phillies announce the signing of free agent OF Andrew McCutchen for three years and $50 million, while the Pirates trade P Ivan Nova to the White Sox in return for a minor leaguer and $500,000 in international bonus pool money. For their part, the Blue Jays decide to take a financial hit and dump the remainder of SS Troy Tulowitzki’s contract, worth $38 million, estimating that there is little chance that he will ever again be a productive player after missing all of 2018 with injuries and putting up a very sub-par season the year before.

The annual winter meetings, taking place in San Diego, CA, conclude with a flurry of deals, some of which still need to be confirmed. The Reds trade two members of their starting rotation, with Mat Latos going to Miami for prospects Anthony DeSclafani and Chad Wallach and Alfredo Simon headed to Detroit for Eugenio Suarez and Jonathon Crawford. The Tigers, in turn, send P Rick Porcello to Boston for OF Yoenis Cespedes and Ps Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier. The Dodgers clear their outfield logjam by sending Matt Kemp and C Tim Federowicz to San Diego for C Yasmani Grandal, Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. Finally, Miami GM Dan Jennings trades his namesake, P Dan Jennings, to the White Sox for another pitcher, Andre Rienzo. There are also a number of free agent signings, with Boston repatriating P Justin Masterson, the Cardinals adding 1B Mark Reynolds, the Royals inking DH Kendrys Morales, the Mets signing OF/1B John Mayberry, and the Twins rumored to have reached a four-year deal with P Ervin Santana worth $54 million.

Teams also hold the annual Rule V Draft. Arizona, drafting first, selects C Oscar Hernandez from Tampa Bay with the top pick while the Rangers take the player with the most raw talent, OF Delino DeShields Jr., from the Astros.

Seattle continues to be busy this off-season, as they sign free agent OF-1B Corey Hart to a one-year deal, and acquire a similar player in Logan Morrison, from the Marlins in exchange for P Carter Capps. In other deals, the Mets sign P Bartolo Colon to a two-year deal, and the Tigers ink OF Rajai Davis, also for two years.

At the Winter Meetings, owners vote to ban home plate collisions over concerns about serious injuries recently suffered by catchers such as Buster Posey or Alex Avila. The exact wording of the rule still needs to be worked out, but baserunners will now be called out if they deliberately run into the opposing catcher, and will face a fine or suspension for particularly grievous offenses. catchers will also be banned from blocking access to the plate without the ball.

3B Kevin Youkilis sign a one-year deal with the Yankees, where he he is counted on to fill in for the injured Alex Rodriguez.

In a three-team trade, the Reds obtain OF Shin-Soo Choo and IF Jason Donald from the Indians, sending OF Drew Stubbs to Cleveland and SS Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks. Arizona sends Ps Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw to the Indians and also receives 1B Lars Anderson and P Tony Sipp from the Tribe.

2011 – The Indians sign OF Felix Pie to a minor league contract coupled with an invitation to attend spring training.