What we learned: December 9, 2014

Cram Session

Winter Meetings

• The White Sox have made several big moves already this offseason, but could they make another? Noah noted that the White Sox are pursuing Francisco Rodriguez for their bullpen.
• Nicholas Zettel of Disciples of Uecker has several notes from the Winter Meetings, including the potential for Scooter Gennett full-time at second base, the ZiPS projections, and more.
• If you're hoping for a big move during the Winter Meetings, don't expect much. Adam McCalvy notes that any additions to the team will likely happen after the Winter Meetings.
• Manager Ron Roenicke answered a variety of questions at Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, and believes that the team can bounce back from the late-season collapse in 2014.

Other Notes

• The ZiPS projections came out yesterday, and Noah looked through the projections and offered his thoughts on each of them.
• The Brewers are helping with an auction initiative to raise money for lung cancer research, and have three packages up for bid: a meeting with Bob Uecker and a game-worn sweater, a photo session with Hank the Ballpark Pup, and a private pottery-making session with Scooter Gennett.
• Cait Covers the Bases notes that Brewers manager Ron Roenicke is set to go to New Zealand as part of a MLB initiative to promote baseball around the globe.
• Noah has a FanShot of Carlos Gomez dancing at a wedding.

NL Central Update

• The Cubs have re-signed starting pitcher Jason Hammel to a two-year, $18 million deal. Ryan Romano of Beyond the Box Score breaks down the deal.

Around Baseball

• The White Sox made the big moves on day one of the Winter Meetings. They signed reliever David Robertson to a four-year, $46 million contract, and also traded for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija from the Athletics for three players. MLB Daily Dish has details on the deals.
• Also at the Winter Meetings, the Indians acquired Brandon Moss from the Athletics for infield prospect Joe Wendle.
• The Golden Era Committee vote for the Hall of Fame was yesterday, and no new players were elected to the Hall of Fame. A few players were within a few votes of getting elected.
• The Rays are finally making progress on finding a new stadium site. Mark Townsend of Big League Stew notes that the Rays have received approval to search for a new site in nearby counties.