There was once a thought that the 2021 Winter Meetings would mark a return to the status quo after the 2020 edition was one of countless events cancelled by the pandemic. However, the MLB owners locked the players out in early December and froze the ol’ transaction log, so we’re again in a weird state of flux. The annual Rule 5 Draft typically marks the end of the Winter Meetings, but this year, it’s just another teleconference on the virtual calendar. Furthermore, the MLB portion of the Rule 5 won’t take place until the lockout ends.
Minor league transactions have continued unabated though, as minor leaguers aren’t members of the MLB Players Association, and if they’re not on 40-man rosters, then they can still be moved around as teams see fit.