Winter Meetings Day 2 and Day 3: The Latest Updates As Teams Make Trades and Eye Free Agents

Winter Meetings in Major League Baseball are a time for teams to sign free agents and make trades. This year is not different from past years, with a lot of big splashes already made. Teams view the winter meetings as a way to make big news. There has been a “Polar Bear” signing. The Orioles were also actively talking to the Florida Marlins about acquiring a starting pitcher. Do you think the winter meetings are the most active time of the year?

Winter Meetings Biggest Move: Pete Alonso Signs With Orioles

First Baseman Pete Alonso and the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a five-year, $155 million contract. Alonso leaves the Mets one day after New York saw Closer Edwin Diaz join the Los Angeles Dodgers. This move makes one wonder why the Orioles let Anthony Santander walk last season to the Toronto Blue Jays.

There is more from the Orioles. The Marlins are active in trade talks right now with multiple teams for Edward Cabrera, a 27-year-old right-hander who has been considered the most likely among their controllable starters to be moved. At this point, the Orioles are the most advanced in those talks. If completed, it is an ideal fit. The Orioles are in need of a top-of-the-rotation starter, and the Marlins are seeking controllable offensive pieces.

Star Outfielder To the Dodgers?

One day after signing Diaz, everyone wondered whether the Los Angeles Dodgers were going to sign a marquee free agent outfielder like Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers are not expected to get into the $400 million range on a long-term deal, but like with Diaz, they will remain on the periphery in case a short-term, high-annual average value deal makes sense. That might not be the case for Kyle Tucker or Bellinger, though. We will see if something shakes out this week.

Pete Fairbanks Is Drawing a Ton Of Interest

Pete Fairbanks is a very popular player this offseason. The right-handed reliever has received interest from several clubs, including the Marlins and Blue Jays. Fairbanks, 31, recorded a 2.83 ERA in 61 appearances for the Rays last season. He reached free agency after Tampa Bay, in a cost-cutting measure, did not pick up his $11 million option. His injury history could be a concern for teams, but he’s expected to land a two or three-year deal. He has generated so much interest that he will likely get signed during these winter meetings.

The Yankees Remain the Dog That Did Not Bark

The Yankees have not made any trades or signed any free agents yet. General Manager Brian Cashman said they would not be active at these winter meetings. Nonetheless, Yankee fans are up in arms over the team’s inaction. Yankee leadership appears content with bringing back the same team that was eliminated in the divisional series last year. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result. The Pittsburgh Pirates have been more active than they have.

Speaking Of the Pirates

The small market Pirates have made offers to multiple free agents so far, and they are also mentioned in several trades. They did make one with the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox get:

RHP Johan Oviedo

LHP Tyler Samaniego

C Adonys Guzman

Pirates get:

OF Jhostynxon Garcia

RHP Jesus Travieso

The American League East is clearly all-in. The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Dylan Cease and Korean League Most Valuable Player Cody Ponce for their rotation. The Baltimore Orioles signed Ryan Helsley and traded for Taylor Ward and Andrew Kittredge. The Tampa Bay Rays have added Outfielders Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley and Reliever Steven Wilson. And now the Boston Red Sox have acquired Oviedo after trading for Sonny Gray last week.

All that said, one has to give the Pirates credit. They are trying to build a team around National League Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes. It remains to be seen if the Pirates will be better next season than they were last, but they are making moves and trying.

Conclusion

The Major League Baseball Winter Meetings are likely to generate a flurry of news for the remainder of the week. It will be interesting to see which teams try to make themselves better. There are also a number of compelling storylines. They include Bo Bichette, Bellinger, Tucker, and Framber Valdez, among others.