Notes From Sin City: Winter Meetings Wrapup

Our MLB editor files dispatches from the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in Notes From Sin City.

This city was built on the potential of winning big, and the reality of losing in the same manner, so its fitting to take a look at who won and lost this week at the Bellagio Hotel.

Winners

New York Baseball Fans: Let's see, the Yankees added the best pitcher on the market, and just maybe the best pitcher on the planet, in CC Sabathia and they aren't done yet. A.J. Burnett could be added to the rotation by the end of the week and they'll add another hurler before the end of the winter. Suddenly it looks like they're right there with the Rays and the Red Sox.

Omar Minaya was, by far, the most visible GM in Las Vegas, and that's because he made major upgrades to the Mets' wretched bullpen, signing Francisco Rodriguez and trading for J.J. Putz and Sean Green. The Mets biggest weakness coming into Las Vegas now appears to be a strength.

Scott Boras: The ruthless superagent is in a perfect spot with almost all of his big-ticket clients in the wake of the CC Sabathia signing. There are four teams rumored to be in on the Mark Teixeira bidding and if he doesn't cross the $200 million threshold, he'll get close. Derek Lowe will be the top starter on the market once Burnett signs and once the Teixeira frenzy comes to a close, Boras will still have the top hitter available in Manny Ramirez. He's going to make a lot of money on commission in the next few weeks.

CC Sabathia: Not only was he awarded the richest contract in the history of baseball this winter, but he can opt out of it again in three seasons and break his own record. Life is good for the big man.

Omar Minaya: He's not a popular guy in New York after the last two seasons and the way he handled the Willie Randolph firing, but it's hard to argue with what he did this week. Remember, as disastrous as their finish was, the Mets finished only three games behind the world champion Phillies in 2008.

Indians: Loved the upside play for Kerry Wood. He could be better than all the top free-agent closers next year, but might come the cheapest.

Bellagio Hotel: Vegas is struggling right now, but baseball's home for the last week wasn't.

Losers

Brewers: It was wonderful to see Milwaukee become a relevant baseball town this past season, but that feeling might have to be tabled for at least a season. Sabathia is gone. Ben Sheets could follow. And while Yovani Gallardo should help fill the void, it's hard to see the Brew Crew hanging with the Cubs next year.

Manny Ramirez: His antics in Boston seem to be costing him now as even Scott Boras can't seem to drum up much interest in the slugger. Ramirez acted like a petulant child just to escape Fenway Park and earn a four-year, nine-figure contract. Because of that behavior, he'll be lucky to get three years and more than $60 million.

Free-Agent Closers and Corner Outfielders: The market is saturated with both these kinds of players and, as a result, depressed. K-Rod had designs on a $75 million deal coming into the offseason and wound up getting slightly more than half that.

Padres: GM Kevin Towers can impose all the false deadlines he wants, but San Diego has virtually no leverage as it tries to move ace Jake Peavy. The Friars need to shed payroll. There is only one suitor for Peavy's services -- the Cubs -- and they're not going to bend over backwards to get him because they don't have to.

Yankees: OK, so they're winners too, but New York is either going to regret signing Sabathia at some point during his contract or it will regret putting an opt-out clause in his contract three years from now.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said something very interesting earlier this week about how each Winter Meetings seems to take on a character of its own. Well these Winter Meetings served as a bit of an appetizer. There were some big moves made, but in the end Las Vegas set the stage for the rest of the offseason more than anything.