We're nearly a month into MLB free agency, and the main even has yet to take place. The Winter Meetings are where many of the key negotiations between general managers, agents and players take place. This year, Nashville will play host to what's sure to be an electric week in the MLB offseason.
The best free agents in baseball -- minus Aaron Nola, of course -- remain available. Shohei Ohtani's market should heat up either before or during the early December sweepstakes, along with so many others.
Contenders such as the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers will look to add to their rosters, while other, less successful big-market organizations hope to add perhaps the final piece to a World Series equation.
The winter meetings can make or break a front office executive's career. Just ask Chaim Bloom, who last offseason let Xander Bogaerts leave for the San Diego Padres, and this winter is jobless. As fun as the winter meetings are for fans, they can be nerve-wracking for those in the thick of it.
The Milwaukee Brewers need to get the MLB Winter Meetings right
After losing Craig Counsell this offseason to the rival Chicago Cubs, Brewers front office executive Matt Arnold cannot afford a poor winter meetings showing. Milwaukee is in an intriguing spot -- they can stand pat and compete for another NL Central crown, or start over with new manager Pat Murphy by trading away some key assets.
The likes of Freddy Peralta, Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames have already been floated in trade talks. Burnes and Peralta would likely net the strongest returns, with the former seemingly on the way out since last spring, when the Brewers arbitration process went sour. FanSided's Robert Murray detailed the Brewers mistake at the time, and what it likely meant:
"It happened again with Corbin Burnes on Tuesday. The Brewers filed at $10.01 million while Burnes requested $10.75 million. The Brewers won the hearing, but a day after the ruling, Burnes met with reporters and sounded off about the process...Going to an arbitration hearing, and ripping the best young pitcher in baseball to his face, over less than $750,000 is not worth it. Sure, it saved the Brewers money now. It saved them money in the future, too," Murray wrote.
For Arnold to save face, he'll have to trade at least Burnes to a contender for a package loaded with prospects or young MLB talent. Adames is also a target, though a down 2023 may force the Brewers to keep him around.
The Toronto Blue Jays cannot afford a poor MLB Winter Meetings
The Toronto Blue Jays are a mess. Ross Atkins decided against firing manager John Schneider despite some questionable decisions which led to Toronto's early playoff absence. The Jays are loaded with young talent, but thus far have yet to convert that into postseason success.
Atkins has some decisions to make. Matt Chapman is a free agent, but had a down 2023 by his standards. Is he worth an expensive new contract, or should they let him walk? Bo Bichette was mentioned in trade talks last week, though it's unclear how serious those were. Bichette was specifically linked to the Cubs, which doesn't make a lot of sense given Dansby Swanson currently mans the shortstop position in Chicago.
"I'm of the opinion that any Bichette trade is unlikely. What the Blue Jays are likely doing is listening to any trade inquiries for Bichette, something every team does with any of its players," Robert Murray said last week. "Perhaps the Blue Jays get blown away with an offer that entices them to move on from the star infielder. But the price to acquire Bichette, who's signed affordably the next two seasons, figures to be high and could make a deal tough to facilitate,"
Hyun-Jin Ryu is also a free agent, and the Jays have been linked to most high-profile starters including Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani cannot pitch in 2024, but he is a shiny toy Toronto would love to feature at Rogers Centre.
Atkins really can't afford to screw this up again.
2023 MLB Winter Meetings are essential for the New York Yankees
Brian Cashman made some rather loud comments at the GM Meetings in Arizona just after the World Series ended. Cashman defended his organization's recent moves despite failing to make the playoffs last season. He also seemingly called out the fanbase, and any inclination that they rely too heavily on analytics.
"I think we have good baseball people, whether they're pro scouts, whether they're coaches, whether they're managers, whether they're the general manager, whether they're analytics guys, I think we have good people," said Cashman. "I'm getting permission requests all over the place. We just lost our bench coach to the Mets as a manager. I've got analytics guys trying to be poached to other clubs right now. Our player development program, no different than other places. But again, reinforcement that we got good people. I'm proud of our people and I'm proud of our process. It doesn't mean we're firing on all cylinders. Doesn't mean we're the best in class, but I think we're pretty f***ing good, personally."
Cashman was also brutally honest about Giancarlo Stanton's injury risk, which appeared to anger his agent, Joel Wolfe. Wolfe is also the agent of New York's top free-agent target, Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
For Cashman to get this right, the Yankees will have to sign one of us Yamamoto or perhaps Jordan Montgomery. If not, signing Cody Bellinger or trading for Juan Soto will do. The one thing Cashman cannot continue to do is sit on his hands.
The Angels won't sign Shohei Ohtani, but 2023 MLB Winter Meetings are important
The Angels are unlikely to re-sign Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way star has had one foot out the door since the trade deadline. Perry Minasian's choice not to trade Ohtani could be looked back upon as one of the worst decisions of his Angels tenure, especially if he can't right the ship this offseason. Despite losing Ohtani, Anaheim isn't embracing an all-out rebuild.
Mike Trout's name has surfaced in trade talks of late, as well, with Minasian insisting that the Angels are not interested in parting ways with their star, who is signed through the 2030 season. Trout has struggled to stay healthy of late, but receiving fair value for him now seems unlikely given the amount of years and money left on his deal. If he were available, the Phillies would be an obvious suitor.
With Trout unlikely to be moved, and Ohtani surely gone, the Angels will have plenty of money to work with in hopes of retooling on the fly. Starting pitching is the Angels primary need, as it often is, and there are plenty of big names available. Expect Minasian to show some interest in Yamamoto, as well as other expensive starters. If he's able to land one, other players will follow.
If Minasian cannot improve the current product, he shouldn't survive much longer in Anaheim.
St. Louis Cardinals have to make up for past wrongs
John Mozeliak insisted that the Cardinals would be in play for two frontline starting pitchers in free agency a few months ago. He's since backed down from that assessment somewhat, suggesting it doesn't matter how the Cards acquire their starting pitching help, as long as they get it before spring training.
This opens up the possibility of a trade. The Cardinals have an outfield surplus to deal from, and they should be active in talks for any available starter minus maybe Burnes. Aaron Nola is off the board, which many pundits assumed would at least receive an offer from St. Louis in free agency. Instead, it was the Braves and Dodgers who were in along with the Phillies, who eventually kept their ace.
St. Louis has signed two underwhelming starters so far this offseason in former Cardinal Lance Lynn as well as Kyle Gibson. Lynn gave up the most home runs in the majors last season, while Gibson gave up the most hits. That's not exactly inspiring from a Cardinals fan perspective, though they will eat innings in a rotation that lacks depth outside of Miles Mikolas.
For Mozeliak to fulfill his promise, he must signed a true ace. Yamamoto would be a perfect addition, and his familiarity with Lars Nootbaar -- his Team Japan WBC teammate -- may help matters. Sonny Gray is also there for the taking. Tyler Glasnow is available for trade.
The point remains: It's early. Mozeliak has plenty of time to stay off the hot seat, but sitting on his hands won't help matters.
