MLB Winter Meetings Kick Off with Draft Preparations and Rule 5 Selection
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are underway, bringing together executives, scouts, and agents for a week of crucial negotiations, rule changes, and prospect evaluations. This year’s meetings are particularly focused on preparations for the upcoming drafts and the selection of players in the Rule 5 Draft, setting the stage for roster construction in the 2026 season.
The Winter Meetings serve as a central hub for all 30 MLB teams to conduct business outside of the regular season. While high-profile free agent signings and trades frequently enough dominate headlines, the meetings are also vital for strategic planning, scouting, and establishing groundwork for the future through the draft process. The stakes are high,as decisions made during this period can significantly impact a team’s competitiveness for years to come.
A key event this week is the 2026 College Draft Lottery, scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 pm. Designed to discourage teams from intentionally losing to secure a higher draft pick, the lottery will determine the first six selections. Teams with the worst records from the previous season are eligible for thes top picks, but the order is randomized.Following the lottery, teams that did not reach the playoffs will select picks 7 through 18 based on reverse winning percentage, while playoff teams will fill slots 19 through 30.
On Wednesday, at 2 pm, the Rule 5 draft will take place. This unique draft allows teams to select players who have been left unprotected by their organizations. Selected players must be placed on their new team’s 40-man roster or be offered back to their original club. The first ten teams to make selections are the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore orioles, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays.
Venezuela’s baseball operations are also represented at the meetings, with Manager Omar López and scout coordinator Rafael Yañez in attendance.Additionally, ao-Jiu Tseng and federado Chien-Ting Lin are present.
