A quiet Winter Meetings ended with a flurry for the Brewers, who found themselves with a highly decorated setup man and a new shortstop in the final 14 hours of their visit.

The Brewers filled the most glaring hole on their roster before boarding a flight home from the Winter Meetings on Thursday, when they agreed to terms with shortstop Alex Gonzalez on a one-year contract that reportedly includes a vesting option for 2013.

While the Braves did not make much noise during this year's Winter Meetings, general manager Frank Wren was encouraged with the progress made during trade negotiations with a number of other Major League clubs.

But cash-strapped and in bankruptcy this winter, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti set out with a modest plan to work within a slashed budget and executed it.

The Yankees never feigned even a glimmer of interest in fitting Albert Pujols for pinstripes, but the slugger's agent did reach out to general manager Brian Cashman just to make sure.

The Yankees remain in the hunt for starting pitching upgrades, so Thursday's news that Japanese standout Yu Darvish has decided to come to the Major Leagues should be front and center on their radar.

The Wall: Reflecting pool fools at Meetings

While the Padres weren't nearly as active as some teams here at the Winter Meetings, they did manage to address their top offseason priority.

A horde of reporters from Japan swarmed Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the final day of the Winter Meetings on Thursday.

Upon receiving word of his trade to New York earlier this week, outfielder Andres Torres thought immediately of his father, a lifelong Mets fan.

His four-day business trip complete, Sandy Alderson stood outside a bank of doors at the Hilton Anatole on Thursday and reflected on what his team accomplished — and what it did not accomplish — at the 2011 Winter Meetings.

As the Winter Meetings came to a close, it was clear that the Rangers have had multiple trade discussions with other teams regarding starting pitching.

Angels players were stunned — as well as ecstatic — about the news that Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson are the newest members of their team.

Unlike in years past, there was really no rush for the Yankees to get to these Winter Meetings, and that contrast of urgency set the stage for the week to be exactly what general manager Brian Cashman anticipated.

The Giants knew that they weren't going to acquire a "household name," as general manager Brian Sabean said before the Winter Meetings, but even with payroll nearing its limit, Sabean thinks the club has improved.

The Phillies and Jimmy Rollins made progress this week on a new contract, so much so that nearly everybody at the Winter Meetings said they expect Rollins to remain in Philadelphia. But things changed Thursday. Albert Pujols is leaving the Cardinals for the Angels, which means St. Louis suddenly has some money to spend.

The Rockies completed the trade for right-hander Kevin Slowey by sending Minor League right-hander Daniel Turpen to the Twins, the Rockies announced Thursday.