Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield, who was kept off the World Series roster because of a shoulder injury, is in “great shape,” according to manager Terry Francona.

The Journal / Bob Breidenbach

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Beyond the eight-player blockbuster between the Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins — made official yesterday — these winter meetings have lacked the trade activity that was forecast.

How slow has it been? Consider that yesterday, one general manager summoned another to his suite. After the second general manager navigated the labyrinth that is the Opryland hotel and arrived at this destination, the host GM somewhat sheepishly announced: “We don’t have a (trade) proposal for you; we were just bored and wanted someone to talk to.”

The inactivity isn’t for lack of effort, however. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said the Sox had “a couple of (trade) proposals out there and they were not met with instant derision.”

That qualifies as something of an achievement this week. Epstein added that the deals were relatively small in nature. In each case, the Sox are looking to improve either their depth or enrich their inventory of prospects.

In contrast to past meetings when the Sox actively shopped Manny Ramirez, there has been no discussion of the Sox’ left fielder this week.

“I think teams realize that Manny is very happy to be a Red Sox,” said Epstein.

The Sox have also been in contact on a number of free agents this week — again, likely lesser players to fill reserve roles.

Asked specifically if the Sox had made proposals for free agents, Epstein said: “We have parameters out there and expressed an interest (in approximately a half-dozen free agents) that could lead to something (getting done) with a phone call.”

Some of those, Epstein stressed, overlap. Translation: they might have shown an interest in two or three backup catchers, with room to sign just one.

The Sox would like to hold onto Bobby Kielty, but Kielty is waiting to see what happens with Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp, each of whom have been mentioned prominently in talks for Johan Santana.

The New York Mets are a possibility for Kielty if the Sox don’t retain him.

smcadam@projo.com