The MLB Winter Meetings have concluded, and members of the baseball community, including many general managers, owners, and media members, will depart from San Diego, California with new talent added to many rosters throughout the sport. The Winter Meetings is considered the busiest part of the offseason for MLB teams, and the meetings often shape much of the roster for teams for the upcoming season. Many of baseball’s largest transactions have occurred at the Winter Meetings, and this year’s meetings were no different, as many teams have reconstructed their rosters in anticipation of the 2015 season.

While many teams made minor transactions during the meetings, it was the signings and trades made by teams such as the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers that attracted most of the headlines regarding the meetings. The Chicago Cubs were able to sign free agent lefty ace Jon Lester, who was viewed by many as MLB’s top free agent, to a 6 year, $155 million contract that will undoubtedly bring joy to Cub fans. However, the signing of Lester was not the only major move that occurred, as several prominent players also changed uniforms during the four-day event.

The Chicago White Sox successfully landed both right-handed ace Jeff Samardzija (in a trade with the Oakland Athletics), and free-agent closer David Robertson, who signed a four-year, $46 million deal. These moves will definitely sure up both the rotation and the bullpen for the White Sox, and could potentially help the team craft a playoff run in 2015.

The Los Angeles Dodgers probably pulled off the most significant trades of the Winter Meetings, as the team was able to acquire shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Philadelphia Phillies, as well as second basemen Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, while dealing All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon, and starting pitcher Dan Haren, to the Miami Marlins for young lefty pitcher Andrew Heaney (who was traded to the Angels for Kendrick), second baseman Enrique Hernandez, catching prospect Austin Barnes, and righty reliever Chris Hatcher. However, it was another trade that the Dodgers pulled off that caught the attention of many fans of the game. The Dodgers and San Diego Padres pulled off a trade that sent star outfielder Matt Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz from Los Angeles to San Diego, while Los Angeles received catcher Yasmani Grandal, pitcher Joe Wieland, and pitching prospect Zach Elfin in return.

With the Winter Meetings coming to a close, there is still much work to be done for many MLB teams, as well as many deals to be made. Even after the Jon Lester signing, many top starting pitchers still remain out on the free-agent market, such as Max Scherzer and James Shields. Both will surely be able to secure long term contracts that will pay them large amounts of money, and both will be able to help their next employer have a solid presence in their team’s rotation. The Winter Meetings may be over, but many transactions are yet to come, as MLB fans and organizations prepare for the 2015 season.