1 thing each team can accomplish at Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings have traditionally been when the Hot Stove season really kicks into gear every offseason. With this yr’s Meetings set to start Sunday in San Diego, we requested every MLB.com beat reporter to provide us their evaluation on what their membership must do earlier than the conferences conclude subsequent Wednesday.

With the likes of Aaron Judge, Justin Verlander and a heavy-hitting group of shortstops headlining this yr’s free-agent market, it may very well be a wild 4 days in Southern California. As the baseball world turns its consideration there, this is what every membership must be trying to accomplish.

Blue Jays: Identify the most effective use for his or her greatest commerce chip(s)
Between Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno, the Blue Jays have three younger, gifted catchers whom half the league must be after. This is a uncommon alternative for this group, and whereas beginning pitching and an outfielder stay high priorities, dealing certainly one of these catchers could be the simplest solution to cross one off the checklist. Doing so is not any small resolution, given the worth every holds, however this is able to permit the Blue Jays to amass a probably main piece with out spending any money. That would permit them to re-enter free company extra aggressively, focusing their remaining accessible payroll on whichever want stays. — Keegan Matheson

Orioles: Identify greatest solution to improve rotation
The O’s need to add a beginning pitcher who can slot into one of many high three spots of their rotation in 2023. They might look to signal a free agent equivalent to Chris Bassitt or Nathan Eovaldi (or anyone else who’s under the Justin Verlander/Carlos Rodón high tier). Or they could search a commerce associate and deal from their position-player depth. The Orioles don’t have to depart San Diego with a brand new starter on their roster, however they need to have a greater concept of how they’re going to fill their greatest want. — Jake Rill

Rays: Figure out who’s on first
The Rays want at the least one high quality left-handed bat to bolster their lineup. They additionally want a daily first baseman. They might tackle each wants without delay by signing somebody like Josh Bell or Brandon Belt. They might purchase a confirmed lefty hitter at one other place (Brandon Nimmo? Michael Brantley?) and shuffle round their present infielders — whether or not it’s Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe or another person — to fill the first-base job from inside. It doesn’t should get finished in San Diego, however some readability on that entrance would assist put every part else so as. — Adam Berry

Red Sox: Bring again Bogaerts
On the day after the common season ended, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom mentioned that his high precedence was to re-sign Xander Bogaerts. That was virtually two months in the past. The time is getting near when the Red Sox want to search out out if bringing again their chief of the previous a number of seasons is real looking, or if the price goes to be too excessive. Agent Scott Boras is understandably fielding lots of inquiries on Bogaerts. If the Red Sox can’t discover widespread floor with Bogaerts, there are three different star shortstops available on the market in Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson. Shortstop is such a key place that it’ll serve the Red Sox effectively in the event that they know who can be holding the spot down by the top of the Winter Meetings. — Ian Browne

Yankees: Re-sign Aaron Judge
The Yankees produce other gadgets on their agenda, after all — on the lookout for a left fielder, monitoring the beginning pitching market and aiming to enhance the bullpen — however nothing is sort of as necessary as re-signing the American League’s Most Valuable Player. Judge has been contemplating a considerable supply from the Bombers, reported to be eight years and at the least $300 million, and lots of within the trade imagine Judge will ultimately return to the Bronx. The Yanks would love to recollect these Winter Meetings because the venue the place a Judge deal was struck. — Bryan Hoch

Guardians: Figure out high catching targets
The Guardians don’t must make a commerce in San Diego to make this journey profitable; they only want to begin having essential conversations with different golf equipment to put the groundwork to amass a catcher. Maybe Cleveland simply re-signs free agent Austin Hedges to bridge the hole behind the plate till the membership’s No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Bo Naylor, is able to tackle the on a regular basis function. However, bringing some fast assist (each offensively and defensively) with gamers like Sean Murphy or Alejandro Kirk may very well be an enormous increase for this lineup. The blueprint of these potential trades might begin to be mapped out in San Diego. — Mandy Bell

Royals: Establish the groundwork for buying pitching
It’s no secret the Royals wish to purchase pitching this offseason, whether or not it’s from the free-agent or commerce market. They additionally would love their new pitching coach, Brian Sweeney, to be a part of these discussions. The Winter Meetings are a fantastic likelihood for the Royals to attach with brokers and different officers in particular person to gauge curiosity and start working towards including a starter or two, in addition to a reliever or two. Having a veteran starter locked into their rotation will assist the younger Royals pitchers proceed their growth on the Major League stage in 2023. — Anne Rogers

Tigers: Find hitters
The Tigers want bats after ending at or close to the underside of the league in lots of offensive classes in 2022. New president of baseball operations Scott Harris in all probability can’t tackle all of that on the Winter Meetings, however he can get began on his want checklist of a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a left-handed-hitting infielder, catching assist and a alternative for Jeimer Candelario at third base. Plate self-discipline is taken into account important. — Jason Beck

Twins: Get extra readability on the Correa scenario
It feels probably that the path of Minnesota’s offseason will hinge on what ultimately comes of Carlos Correa’s free company. If the Twins can outbid the competitors, they’ll must work round that contract as they ponder their different strikes. If they’ll’t sustain, they’ll shortly must pivot to different methods to make significant additions to their roster — and the market has already began shifting. Will that imply one other shortstop? A deal with influence pitching assist? Productive bats within the outfield and elsewhere? A extra sizable dedication at catcher? The end result of the Correa scenario might assist a few of that come into focus. — Do-Hyoung Park

White Sox: Add within the outfield
Second base additionally may very well be a goal for the White Sox, however the crew has inside choices through Romy Gonzalez, Lenyn Sosa and Leury Garcia. There are 4 outfielders at present on the crew’s 40-man roster, however solely Luis Robert really will play there full time. Left-handed-hitting Oscar Colas, the crew’s No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, figures to take over in proper area. But the White Sox want one other left-handed-hitting bat among the many outfielder or two they need to add. General supervisor Rick Hahn might method the outfield want through commerce or free company. — Scott Merkin

Angels: Improve the bullpen
The Angels have been energetic early this offseason, signing lefty Tyler Anderson to affix the rotation, whereas additionally buying and selling for outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielder Gio Urshela. But the bullpen is now the highest precedence, particularly after the Angels traded nearer Raisel Iglesias to the Braves on the Trade Deadline. The Angels wish to discover a longtime nearer, however might accept including a number of veteran arms to supplant their present group of relievers. — Rhett Bollinger

Astros: Find a left fielder
Yordan Alvarez began 57 video games in left in 2022 and can proceed to DH fairly a bit going ahead. So the Astros are looking for an outfield bat who can play left when Alvarez is at DH. That function was held final yr by Michael Brantley, who missed the second half of the season with a proper shoulder damage and had surgical procedure. Brantley is a free agent and the crew is taking a wait-and-see method with him. Another identify to observe: Michael Conforto. — Brian McTaggart

Athletics: Assess the Sean Murphy market
The checklist of groups reportedly concerned about Murphy solely appears to develop with every day because the Hot Stove begins to warmth up. With Murphy’s identify certain to return up in discussions on the upcoming Winter Meetings and the A’s looking for to handle a number of wants on their rebuilding roster, GM David Forst may have an opportunity to area presents from golf equipment and decide if there’s a bundle on the market worthy of giving up the 28-year-old catcher, who completed 2022 a finalist for Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards and is below crew management by way of the ‘25 season. — Martín Gallegos

Mariners: How else can they bolster their lineup?
Before even arriving in San Diego, the Mariners have already crossed off two main containers on their offseason guidelines, buying a run-producing nook outfielder (Teoscar Hernández in a commerce with Toronto) and a extra consistent-hitting second baseman (Kolten Wong in a commerce with Milwaukee). Yet GM Justin Hollander indicated that the membership just isn’t finished, saying, “We’ll proceed to search for methods by which we will lengthen our lineup and deepen our offense.” Hollander didn’t rule out including extra pop on the corners — in each the infield and outfield, the place they’ve established gamers. That mentioned, with this inventive entrance workplace, nothing may be dominated out. — Daniel Kramer

Rangers: An enormous middle-of-the-order bat
The Rangers addressed certainly one of their greatest wants after they signed Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal on Friday, however the membership nonetheless has holes. Depth within the rotation will proceed to be a degree of emphasis, however after the addition of deGrom, Texas would do good so as to add extra to the offense. Adolis García has proved to be an on a regular basis huge leaguer, however the membership little question wants one other house run hitter in the course of the order behind (or between) the core 4 of Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Nathaniel Lowe and García. — Kennedi Landry

Braves: Find or at the least goal a left fielder
Most of the eye can be on Dansby Swanson’s future, however he could stay a free agent till fellow shortstops Trea Turner and Carlos Correa signal. If Swanson exits, the Braves could greatest account for his elimination from the lineup by including a left fielder. But even when Swanson returns, it might be greatest to search out anyone to play left area on an on a regular basis foundation or at the least share the place with Eddie Rosario, who supplied little energy, even after he returned from laser eye surgical procedure this previous season. — Mark Bowman

Marlins: Begin upgrading the lineup
If the GM Meetings have been an opportunity to find what organizations want and are keen to half with, then the Winter Meetings are a time to hyperlink up and make strikes. Eight years in the past, the Marlins acquired Dee Strange-Gordon in San Diego. Is one other blockbuster on the best way? In 2022, Miami scored the third-fewest runs in MLB. Considering the group’s beginning pitching depth, going the commerce route appears extra probably than free company. — Christina De Nicola

Mets: Sign somebody to affix Scherzer atop rotation
Jacob deGrom could have been the Mets’ high precedence, however now that he has signed a five-year cope with the Rangers, they’ll’t dwell on his departure. They can now take a extra severe have a look at Carlos Rodón, Justin Verlander or Kodai Senga to turn out to be the No. 2 of their rotation behind Max Scherzer. Whether they add a kind of starters or another person, the Mets badly want pitching. The Winter Meetings will give them a discussion board to handle that want. — Anthony DiComo

Nationals: Address beginning pitching wants
The Nationals have solely two starters who completed this previous season wholesome on the roster for 2023 — Patrick Corbin and Josiah Gray — after non-tendering Erick Fedde. While Cade Cavalli and MacKenzie Gore are anticipated to return from damage and be within the rotation subsequent season, that also leaves a emptiness for a fifth starter. The Nats might flip to Paolo Espino or Cory Abbott, who began and pitched in reduction, however having one other devoted starter would improve their rotation. — Jessica Camerato

Phillies: Zero in on a shortstop
The Phillies don’t have to succeed in an settlement with a free-agent shortstop on the Winter Meetings, however they should get down the street with one, very similar to they did with the Blue Jays relating to Roy Halladay on the 2009 Winter Meetings and Cliff Lee on the 2010 Winter Meetings. Not that the Phillies can’t do a couple of factor without delay, however knocking out shortstop will fill their most urgent offseason want, and permit them to deal with rounding out the rotation and bullpen. — Todd Zolecki

Brewers: Get a leap on the pitching market
Most of the free-agent pitching stays available on the market, ready for Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón to land. The Brewers are virtually definitely all around the arms within the tier under that, looking for so as to add depth to an already gifted rotation and fortify the crew’s clear power. If they’ll add a stable innings-eater, it might assist them to handle the innings of a pitcher like Freddy Peralta coming off accidents, and to make use of Aaron Ashby within the kind of hybrid function they imagine he’s very priceless in. The Winter Meetings are an opportunity to get a very good really feel for the price of accessible arms, for the reason that Brewers produce other wants at catcher and within the bullpen. — Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: Lay the groundwork to amass a catcher
With the retirement of Yadier Molina, the Cardinals are looking for a catcher for the primary time in additional than twenty years. Undoubtedly, their high precedence in these Winter Meetings is discovering a path to amass their subsequent on a regular basis catcher — whether or not that’s through a free-agency signing or a commerce. Willson Contreras is essentially the most achieved catcher available on the market, however he’ll include a expensive price ticket. Trading for Oakland’s Sean Murphy or Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk or Danny Jansen will probably price solely younger gamers, however the Cardinals ought to resist dealing Nolan Gorman or Dylan Carlson. — John Denton

Cubs: Identify high precedence amongst shortstop choices
It’s no secret that the Cubs are out there for one of many big-ticket shortstops: Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts or Dansby Swanson. That quartet of stars has additionally been ready for the primary domino to drop in that a part of {the marketplace}. At the Winter Meetings, the Cubs can proceed to slender their focus behind the scenes, figuring out which shortstop must be atop their wishlist (or which of the 4 is essentially the most real looking to pursue). One manner or one other, the North Siders ought to hope to depart San Diego a number of steps nearer to reeling somebody in. — Jordan Bastian

Pirates: Add a left-handed pitcher
The Pirates come into the Winter Meetings with no single left-handed pitcher on their 40-man roster. No starters. No relievers. The Winter Meetings current Pittsburgh with a chance to handle that want. Whether or not it’s signing a free agent or choosing a southpaw within the Rule 5 Draft, the Pirates may have a chance to depart San Diego with a lefty or two on the 40-man roster. — Justice delos Santos

Reds: Sign an outfielder
Center fielder Nick Senzel is damage inclined and coming off a poor offensive season and must re-earn his spot this spring. Left-handed bats Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl emerged properly within the second half of 2022 however will not be established but as on a regular basis gamers. Cincinnati might use an outfielder who produces offense in opposition to each lefty and righty pitchers. — Mark Sheldon

Dodgers: Sign Justin Verlander or one other stable starter
The Dodgers have zeroed in on Verlander as their high goal and the 2 sides had a very good assembly over Zoom earlier this week. Both New York groups may also be concerned with Verlander, making this fairly the race for the probably future Hall of Famer. But the Dodgers are in determined want of beginning pitching and it doesn’t get a lot better than Verlander. — Juan Toribio

D-backs: Figure out which outfielder they should commerce
While the D-backs don’t should commerce certainly one of their 4 younger outfielders — Corbin Carroll, Daulton Varsho, Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas — it might make sense to take action if they might fill certainly one of their different roster wants. Teams have been instructed that the D-backs will not be going to maneuver Carroll, and the way the membership prioritizes the opposite three just isn’t sure. If they haven’t finished so already, then by the point the conferences are over, the D-backs ought to have a very good really feel for what every would usher in return and what makes essentially the most sense. — Steve Gilbert

Giants: Sign a star
With deep pockets and a stressed fanbase, the stress can be on the Giants to fill their celebrity void and land an enormous identify who may also help draw followers again to Oracle Park subsequent yr. Aaron Judge can be Plan A, but when he opts to re-sign with the Yankees, the Giants might delve extra aggressively into the shortstop market and attempt to goal one other elite participant equivalent to Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson or Xander Bogaerts. — Maria Guardado

Padres: Home in on a beginning pitcher
Predicting GM A.J. Preller’s subsequent transfer is a idiot’s errand, however the Padres have an apparent gap on the backside of the rotation. The Padres are amongst many groups pursuing Japanese free agent Kodai Senga, but when Senga indicators elsewhere, then Preller would possibly flip to the commerce market after gathering intel on the Winter Meetings. — Shaun O’Neill

Rockies: Obtain fast assist whereas defending their prospects
The Rockies want offensive assist, however there are rising indications they’re extra prone to search a short-term signing (Cody Bellinger, Kevin Kiermaier or Andrew Benintendi) than an enormous expenditure (Brandon Nimmo). They want pitching, as at all times, but it surely’s prone to come by way of an under-the-radar commerce or signing. With the Rockies having modest acquisition aspirations and never eager to deal their high prospects, they might not be making a lot news in San Diego. — Thomas Harding