With the Winter Meetings set to begin Sunday in Nashville, the temperature of the Hot Stove could be raised significantly as baseball industry executives gather in one place.
Whether it’s getting a feel for what’s possible this offseason or even making a few big moves to advance their teams in 2024, MLB decision-makers could significantly change the landscape before they Leaving Tennessee next week.
The next few days could be action-packed considering one of the most hyped free agents in MLB history is on the market this year, while there is also a long line of teams looking for a limited supply of available Looking for pitching. With a robust trading market reportedly developing, serious shenanigans can occur.
Here’s a look at something each club can accomplish at this year’s winter meetings:
Blue Jays: Find clarity on the left side of the field
Third base is clearly Toronto’s first need, but with Kevin Kiermaier and Whit Merrifield joining Matt Chapman in free agency, the club also needs to fill at least one outfield spot this offseason. Assuming Daulton Varsho becomes a full-time center fielder, the Blue Jays still have internal options at left and third, meaning they have some flexibility in the free agent and trade markets. The winter meetings will be a good place to gauge what is possible, who is available and how urgent it is to get a deal done for one of these positions. – Julia Cross
Orioles: Lay the foundation for expanding pitching staff
Baltimore is looking for pitching help this offseason and has two targets in mind: a starter who can ideally secure a spot in the top three in the rotation and a back-end reliever who may fill in in the absence of Félix Bautista (from) could catch up for 2024 after Tommy John surgery). The Orioles can use the winter meetings to meet with agents for pitchers on the open market and with other executives to discuss potential deals. The latter seems like the more likely route for the O’s to acquire a top pitcher, considering they have more potential position players and traditionally don’t spend much money in free agency. – Jake Rill
Rays: Find out where they fit in the starter pitching market
The Rays are in the unusual situation of having to add depth to their starting rotation while likely trying to eliminate top starter Tyler Glasnow. It’s possible neither will happen during the winter meetings, but more activity at the top of the market — including free agents like Blake Snell and other trade candidates like Corbin Burnes — could help clarify who might have the greatest need for Glasnow . who is due $25 million next season before reaching free agency. If free agent pitchers start flying off the board, is it better for them to add the starters they need through trades? – Adam Berry
Red Sox: Strengthen the starting rotation
There have been very few offseasons in which the Red Sox’s primary need has been so obvious: the club needs more starting players. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow’s goal is to add a starter or two this winter, and you can be sure he’ll be in full pursuit in Nashville. Left-handers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are two pitchers on the market who could give the Red Sox instant credibility. The same could be said if Breslow could make an international splash and sign Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a 25-year-old right-back with an extensive arsenal of shots. – Ian Browne
Yankees: Shift the narrative
There was a sour mood on 161st Street after an 82-win campaign that general manager Brian Cashman bluntly called a “disaster.” A big addition would restore confidence in the direction of the franchise. The Yankees have strong interest in Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched a no-hitter in Cashman’s presence last September. Cashman even pocketed a ticket stub as a souvenir for his son. They’ve read up on a blockbuster trade for Juan Soto that would add a powerful left-handed bat to a sluggish offense. That could also be free agent Cody Bellinger. — Bryan High
Guardians: Improve offense
Regardless of whether they trade starter Shane Bieber or someone else, the Guardians need to find a way to get a major league-ready bat (preferably with a lot of power). With all 30 front offices in one building, Cleveland may be able to spark a conversation with a perfect trade partner. Bieber seems like the most sensible trade candidate given his reputation, but the question is whether the elbow inflammation that sidelined him for two months in the second half of the regular season and the fact that he only has one year left of his control its commercial value will be damaged. – Mandy Bell
Royals: Find a starter
The Royals set out this winter to acquire a starter or two who they can not only rely on for innings in 2024, but also someone who can help the rest of the rotation take a step forward. While they added Nick Anderson to the bullpen, there has been little movement in the starting pitching market for the Royals and most teams. That could change in Nashville. General manager JJ Picollo can use the three days of meetings to lay the foundation for a starter – or to make a deal there. There are a lot of holes to fill in Kansas City this offseason, and the Winter Meetings can be a good place to start filling them. –Anne Rogers
Tigers: Add more pitching
The Tigers added a veteran presence to their young squad earlier this week by signing Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24 million contract. However, President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris made it clear that he is looking for more, even repeating his predecessors Al Avila and Dave Dombrowski’s oft-used phrase that there can’t be too much pitching. Detroit would like another starter to reduce its reliance on Casey Mize in his return from Tommy John surgery and could use a lefty backup to back up Tyler Holton after the loss of Tyler Alexander. –Jason Beck
Gemini: Gauge the market for your trading chips
Aside from two earth-shattering Carlos Correa signings, this Twins front office has been the most active in the trade market over the last few offseasons, and this winter could bring even more of the same as the Twins may not have the financial flexibility to make significant free moves Hand – and they have a handful of trading chips that could attract interest as they look to make deals from areas of great depth to bolster areas of need. In particular, Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler and Kyle Farmer could be names to keep an eye on, as the Twins are likely to pursue pitching, Byron Buxton’s insurance in center field and a right-handed bat. – Do Hyoung Park
White Sox: Continue retooling roster
General manager Chris Getz is certainly making significant changes to the roster after a dismal 61-101 performance in 2023. The options for shortstop Tim Anderson and closer Liam Hendriks, two of the organization’s starters, were declined for ’24, and backup Aaron Bummer was traded to the Braves for a five-player return. So who’s next? Starter Dylan Cease is the focus right now, but Getz made it clear that there are no untouchables on this roster. Getz will need to fill some starting pitching and bullpen holes on the roster at some point, not to mention right field and possibly second base and catcher. This process could come with his changing the identity of the White Sox. – Scott Merkin
Angel: Find out where you stand with Shohei Ohtani
The Angels’ top target remains Ohtani, the most sought-after free agent in MLB history. Ohtani has kept his process secret, but the Angels need to figure out what their chances are of re-signing him. Either way, they need to add a lot of pieces to a club that has won 73 games in consecutive seasons. General manager Perry Minasian has made it clear that he wants to try to win under new manager Ron Washington, so they need to start adding to the roster. And knowing whether or not they will pay Ohtani will be an important part of that equation. – Rhett Bollinger
Astros: Strengthen the bullpen
The Astros have had one of the best bullpens in baseball in recent years, but are set for an overhaul this winter with three key relievers – Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek – in free agency. Neris (71 games), Maton (68 games) and Stanek (55 games) combined for 185 innings last season — 33.9 percent of the team’s relief innings in 2023 — and Neris in particular pitched huge outs all season . Look for the Astros to look to make one or two impactful additions to their bullpen ahead of setup man Bryan Abreu and closer Ryan Pressly. – Brian McTaggart
Athletics: Identify targets for experienced starting players
General manager David Forst indicated that the A’s have already been looking on both the trade and free agent markets for an experienced starting pitcher who can help ease the burden on a young and inexperienced team that had problems last season. Starting pitching is always a priority, so the A’s will likely use the winter meetings as an opportunity to explore their realistic options. –Martin Gallegos
Mariners: Come away with more clarity in the lineup
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander have already laid the groundwork for transforming Seattle’s offense into a more contract-focused group by not extending a qualifying offer to Teoscar Hernández and then trading Eugenio Suárez. Both had one of the highest strikeout rates in MLB, but were also two of the Mariners’ most important run producers. It suggests a domino effect, but the subsequent dominoes have yet to fall. – Daniel Kramer
Rangers: Strengthen the rotation
The Rangers aren’t lacking rotation depth, but general manager Chris Young has already said they want to add at least one more starter alongside Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning. They have continued discussions with Jordan Montgomery, who Texas acquired at the 2023 trade deadline to help advance the World Series, and there are a number of other quality arms on the market. Whether through trade or free agency, the Rangers would certainly like to have another starting pitcher by Christmas. – Kennedy Landry
Braves: Strengthen rotation
They could use a left fielder, but the bigger need appears to be finding immediate and future value for a rotation that could lose Max Fried and Charlie Morton after the 2024 season. The Braves have shied away from giving free-agent starting pitchers long-term contracts. But they may be willing to use some pitching prospects or one of their veterans to bid for someone like Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes or another available front-line starter. – Mark Bowman
Marlins: Start laying the foundation for Bendix’s vision
Peter Bendix, president of baseball operations, had his first day on the job at the general managers meetings, so he relied heavily on his assistant GMs to show him the ropes and make roster decisions. After a month, Bendix will arrive in Nashville with a better understanding of the organization and the opportunity to implement his plan for sustained success. Miami only has one catcher on the 40-man roster, so there’s a place to start. – Christina De Nicola
Mets: Add another starting pitcher
Before the offseason is over, the Mets need to acquire two or three starters to join Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana in their rotation. One landed earlier this week when the Mets agreed to a deal with Luis Severino. Another, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, saw his market take off at the winter meetings. But even if Yamamoto isn’t under contract until later in December, the Mets would do well to add more depth in Nashville. – Anthony DiComo
Nationals: Determine who starts first
The Nationals must name a new starting first baseman in 2024 after designating Dominic Smith for assignment in November. Smith made 140 starts last season. Washington could move Joey Meneses from the designated hitter role back to the starting position, where he started in 1922. Or the Nats could look outside the organization. Their free agent signings in recent years have been short-term deals while they focus on the future. –Jessica Camerato
Phillies: Looking for something big
If Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, is to be believed, the Phils completed their hard work this offseason the moment they signed Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million contract. Maybe they’ll add a backup or two before spring training to replace free agent Craig Kimbrel. Maybe they’ll find a bank thug. Or maybe Dombrowski and Co. are looking into making a trade (e.g. Corbin Burnes) or signing a free agent (e.g. Yoshinobu Yamamoto) that will shake up the NL. – Todd Zolecki
Brewers: Choose Corbin Burnes
The most productive time at winter meetings is often spent assessing a particular market. The starting pitching market moved early, with Aaron Nola (Phillies) and Sonny Gray (Cardinals) no longer on the roster. NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and left-hander Jordan Montgomery are the top free agents still available. Dylan Cease and Tyler Glasnow are the top names believed to be available via trade. Burnes would jump to the top of the “Best Available” list if the Brewers decided to make offers, and it’s important that they leave Nashville with a good sense of his value. – Adam McCalvy
Cardinals: Refresh the bullpen
Now that the Cardinals have addressed their starting pitching woes with the additions of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, they need to add weapons to a bullpen that was severely overexposed last season. Another Jordan Hicks addition isn’t out of the question after the club and the flame-throwing right-hander almost reached a contract extension last July before talks fell through and Hicks was traded to the Blue Jays. JoJo Romero and John King were revelations in the wreckage of last season, but the Cardinals will almost certainly pursue another left guard this offseason. If they can find a deal to free up their crowded outfield, they could potentially address their bullpen needs as well. –John Denton
Cubs: Gain momentum while learning pitching
Once Shohei Ohtani makes his decision on where he wants to sign, many Plan Bs will come to fruition. What could the Cubs tackle in the meantime? On the pitching front, Chicago needs at least one batting starter and will look to add more depth (and perhaps some late inning help) to the bullpen. If the Cubs remain in a holding pattern at the position player front, they could still make a push in the Winter Meetings. On the trade front, starters like Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber or Corbin Burnes could be among the names on the radar. Could free-agent lefty Josh Hader reunite with manager Craig Counsell in the bullpen? The meetings offer the opportunity to give momentum to all negotiations. – Jordan Bastian
Pirates: Sign or select an experienced starting player
Mitch Keller is currently the most experienced pitcher on the Pirates starting team. And although he now has five seasons and an All-Star Game appearance under his belt, he is only 27 years old and has just reached the 100-start mark of his career. The Pirates arguably need more than one new addition to their rotation, but adding someone with experience who can reliably handle innings for a staff that has navigated some difficult Tommy John surgeries and some growing pains due to prospects has to be right up there for them Bucs are on the list. – Judge delos Santos
Red: Keep pushing for further steps
After a surprising 82-win season that saw them compete for the postseason with a young squad, the Reds wanted to further improve their chances in 2024. On both Wednesday and Thursday, they agreed to two-year contracts with a pair of experienced pitchers – reliever Emilio Pagán and swingman Nick Martinez – to fill innings needs. But they probably aren’t done improving the bullpen and could also use a right-handed hitter in the outfield. While these moves are not yet complete in Nashville, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall can lay the groundwork for deals later this winter. – Mark Sheldon
D-Backs: Assess the starting pitching market
The D-backs’ biggest need this offseason is finding a starter to step in after Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt. While they’ve already worked to get a feel for the starter pitching market, the winter meetings give them a chance to figure out whether they need to acquire a starter via free agency or a trade. They have some money to spend and they also have some trade chips that teams would be interested in. They just need to figure out which ones they need to use as starters, and then they can use the rest to add depth to the bullpen and bench. – Steve Gilbert
Dodgers: Sign Shohei Ohtani
Earlier this offseason, the Dodgers laid out their needs. They need at least two frontline starters and perhaps another depth player in the rotation. The bullpen is solid, but they could still add something. They also need to figure out what they want to do at the shortstop position to generate more offense. All of this is still true. But in the end, the Dodgers’ offseason will likely depend on whether or not they sign Ohtani. There has long been speculation that the Dodgers and Ohtani are a perfect fit. The Dodgers have dreamed of Ohtani for nearly a decade. The Winter Meetings in Nashville seem like the perfect time to finally make it a reality. –Juan Toribio
Giants: Land a big star
After missing the playoffs in two straight seasons, pressure is mounting on the Giants to make serious improvements to a roster that has been lacking a “Face of the Franchise” type player since the retirement of Buster Posey at the end of the 2021 season. They missed out on Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa last offseason, but are expected to shop at the top of the market again this year, with Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto reportedly high on their wish list. The Giants certainly have the financial resources to make a splash, so it may only be a matter of time before they finally manage to land the big fish. –Maria Guardado
Padres: Conversation with Juan Soto’s camp; Talk to other teams about Soto
Despite all the excitement surrounding a potential Soto transfer, it seems unlikely that it will come to fruition in Nashville. The winter is still young and the Padres have left the door open to the possibility of Soto finding a long-term home in San Diego. But if Soto is interested in hitting the free-agent market next offseason, then it’s time to figure out what he would get with a trade. And what better time to listen to these offers than at the winter meetings? That doesn’t mean the Padres have to deal with Soto. He’s an elite hitter in his prime on a team with October aspirations. But if they’re blown away by a trade offer — and if they’ve reached the point where they’re confident Soto would leave via free agency — it’s at least time to listen. — AJ Cassavell
Rockies: Try to speed up the schedule by improving the pitching
As the Rockies headed for 103 losses, they went into full rebuild mode, trading veterans for pitching prospects and turning the lineup over to rookies like Ezequiel Tovar, Nolan Jones and Gold Glove Award winner Brenton Doyle. While building a strong rotation in 2024 would be a long shot, with Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela out for much of the upcoming season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, a competent rotation could make the team competitive. There is prospect depth in the outfield, middle infield and at catcher from which potential trades can be made. The road to victory seems long, but the right pitching moves could make it shorter and less painful. – Thomas Harding