2024 MLB winter meetings updates, rumors and predictions

The MLB winter meetings began Monday in Dallas and it figures to be an action-packed week of rumors, signings and trades.

We've got it all covered right here, from our predictions heading into the meetings to the latest updates, analysis and daily takeaways as the moves go down.

Now that Juan Soto has made his decision, what big free agency moves will follow? Who will be the big names mentioned in trade talks? And what rumors will dominate the week? Check out our predictions now and refresh often for the latest as the week unfolds.

Tuesday's winter meetings takeaways

The Yankees have (un)officially pivoted from Juan Soto. Their top priority going into the offseason if they lost out on Soto was adding a top-tier starting pitcher, and they got one in Max Fried. The price -- $218 million for eight years -- was hefty, but they're better than they were yesterday, and they aren't done yet. Fried's addition, on paper, gives the Yankees one of the premier starting rotations in baseball. He'll slide in behind ace Gerrit Cole withCarlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt rounding out the quintet. -- Jorge Castillo

The overall price of starting pitching is through the roof. It's not just Fried. It's Nathan Eovaldi nearly doubling the average annual value of his prior deal, securing $75 million over three years. It's another $15 million going to Alex Cobb, a 37-year-old coming off a three-start season. It's $67 million, an A's record, guaranteed to Luis Severino. And it's the likes of Frankie Montas ($34 million) and Matthew Boyd ($29 million) before them. So, yes, Corbin Burnes is going to do very, very well. But given how it has gone so far this offseason, so will every starter. It's a product of the player pool, the trajectory of free-spending clubs and, perhaps most glaringly, the increasing rate of injuries that has made teams feel as if they can never possess enough starting-pitching depth. -- Alden Gonzalez

Free agent moves are the talk now, but trades are brewing.The trade market has begun to heat up this week and, ultimately, this winter is going to be remembered for some big names getting moved. Kyle Tucker, Nolan Arenado, Garrett Crochet and either Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki are all more likely to be dealt than not, according to league sources. The game of musical chairs could actually begin with Alex Bregman. If Houston retains the infielder's services, it all but guarantees Tucker will be traded. He might be anyway. -- Jesse Rogers

Winter meetings news and rumors

Dec. 10 buzz

Roki Sasaki "a major priority" for the Dodgers

What has long been obvious is now official: The Los Angeles Dodgers are in on Roki Sasaki.

"He's someone that is obviously a major priority for us," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, "and we're going to do whatever we can."

The Dodgers are still in talks to bring back Teoscar Hernandez and want to add a high-leverage reliever, but they also will spend these next few weeks laser focused on Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese phenom who was posted Tuesday and will pick his new team shortly after the next international signing period opens on Jan. 15.

The San Diego Padres, the Dodgers' biggest rival at the moment, loom as perhaps their biggest competition, though Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolfe, didn't rule out anybody while addressing the media. And while the Padres hope Yu Darvish plays a part in convincing Sasaki to play in San Diego, the Dodgers hope Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto -- also teammates with Sasaki during Japan's championship run in last year's World Baseball Classic -- have more of an impact.

There has long been a perception that high-profile Japanese players prefer not to play alongside other Japanese stars in the major leagues, but that clearly wasn't the case when the Dodgers signed Ohtani and Yamamoto within weeks of each other last offseason. How Sasaki views that dynamic is uncertain.

"Like everything, it's an individual choice," Friedman said. "For some people, I think it's a real positive. And for other people, it might not be. For us, it's about trying to understand that and putting forth our best foot and selling the city, the market, the opportunity, the growth and development and all the things we feel like we have to offer. I'm sure other teams will do the same." -- Alden Gonzalez

How Cubs' outfield crowd is driving trade speculation

The buzz around Cubs outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger might simply revolve around the idea of having two players for one position. With rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong establishing himself as the best defensive center fielder on the team, it has moved Bellinger into Suzuki's spot in right. The Cubs -- like a lot of teams -- want to rotate players at designated hitter, meaning either Suzuki or Bellinger might be on the move.

"That's a natural thing for teams to ask as they look at where a team's depth is," Chicago general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday. "It's not a surprise teams would go down that path." -- Jesse Rogers

How Fried's record deal helps another free agent ace

With the signing of Max Fried, the path has been cleared for Corbin Burnes to ink the highest offseason contract for a pitcher this winter. The Giants remain the favorites for his services, which likely will come at a cost closer to $300 million than $200 million. Fried's deal with the Yankees for eight years at $218 million sets the bar for Burnes, who should blow by that number. -- Jesse Rogers

Guardians and Blue Jays complete trade

BREAKING: The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. -- Jeff Passan

Yankees land Fried on $218 million contract

BREAKING: Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in agreement on aneight-year, $218 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a left-handed pitcher. -- Jeff Passan

Rangers, Yankees among teams showing interest in reliever Martin

Veteran right-hander Chris Martin, who is at the winter meetings, has so far met with the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, a source tells ESPN. Martin, 38, recorded a 3.45 ERA in 45 games for the Boston Red Sox last season after posting a 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances for the club in 2023. -- Jorge Castillo

Yankees could look to add new closer

Luke Weaver thrived as the New York Yankees' closer after replacing Clay Holmes in September, but manager Aaron Boone said that doesn't mean Weaver will be the team's closer next season. Boone said Weaver's role will depend on where the Yankees "go this offseason." One possibility is they sign free agent left-hander Tanner Scott to be their closer. The Yankees had interest in acquiring him from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline before he was traded to the San Diego Padres. When asked about Scott, Boone complimented his stuff and his command improvement. Scott, 30, has a 2.04 ERA in 146 appearances over the past two seasons. -- Jorge Castillo

What does Guerrero's future in Toronto look like?

The Toronto Blue Jays made an aggressive run at Juan Soto and lost out, just one offseason after losing out on Shohei Ohtani. Now, many in the industry believe the course of their franchise could be directed by one player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the star first baseman who is only a season away from free agency. The Blue Jays have been in talks with Guerrero about an extension but are not considered to be close to one -- a type of uncertainty that could impact their ability to attract free agents, many of whom will wonder about the direction of the franchise if Guerrero leaves in a year.

If the two sides can't agree to a deal, many in the industry believe the Blue Jays will have little choice but to trade Guerrero and begin a rebuilding process. It doesn't seem as if that is at the forefront of their minds, however; Toronto can easily play out the 2025 season and hope to bring Guerrero back as a free agent. But he'll hit the open market at just 26 years old, the same age that catapulted Juan Soto to a $765 million guarantee. And the Blue Jays would obviously risk Guerrero's price elevating further if he has another MVP-caliber season. -- Alden Gonzalez

Latest on Arenado's trade status with Cardinals

With Nolan Arenado being mentioned in trade talks, his agent, Joel Wolfe, spoke about the Cardinals infielder's status on Tuesday. Wolfe said Arenado would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to a winning team and would be open to moving to first base if it makes sense.

Sasaki's agent speaks at winter meetings

Now that star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has officially been posted as an MLB free agent, his agent, Joel Wolfe, spoke to the media at the winter meetings on Tuesday.

Here are a few of Wolfe's quotes from the media session.

On what Sasaki values: "He has paid attention to how teams have done as far as overall success, both this year and in the past. He does watch a lot of MLB. He has paid attention to what his [World Baseball Classic] teammates have done. He asks about weather, comfortability, pitching development. He has been watching what other Japanese players in the major leagues are doing and how they are doing."

On market size: "I think that there's an argument to be made that a smaller, mid-market team might be more beneficial for him as a soft landing. Might be, I'm not saying it will be -- but I really don't know how he looks at it yet."

On geography:"He's never brought that up as an issue. When we supply information to our players, our Japanese players, long before they come over here, one of the things that we provide for them is direct flights from Japan, and the amount of time it takes for your family to come and visit you. And I think about five or 10 years ago, that was something that maybe they weighed a little bit more, but now you can fly direct from Japan to most of the major cities in the U.S. It's not really that much of an issue anymore."

Who could land Arenado, Tucker?

With Nolan Arenado and Kyle Tucker being mentioned in winter meetings trade speculation, David Schoenfield identifies potential landing spots for both sluggers -- including the New York Yankees. Arenado, Tucker trade fits (ESPN+)

Why Astros' Tucker is coming up in trade speculation

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane has not gone beyond six years in his offers to players, and it's pretty clear that if Kyle Tucker stays healthy, he is going to be offered big money/big years as a free agent next fall. So Houston has a choice similar to Boston's in the offseason after 2019 with Mookie Betts: trade him for value this winter or next July, or, watch him walk away.

The Astros have indicated to other teams that, as a rule, they'll listen to offers for anyone on their roster. But rival execs note that while trading Tucker now might help them recoup more value, the Astros -- who've been in win-now mode since 2015 -- have a long history of allowing their impending free agents walk out the door, rather than flipping them in pre-emptive trades. Gerrit Cole, George Springer and Carlos Correa are three of the most prominent examples of this philosophy. "And they're trying to win (in 2025)," said one rival evaluator. "I have a hard time seeing them trade Tucker orFramber [Valdez]."-- Buster Olney

Dec. 9 buzz

White Sox in trade talks on Crochet, Robert

The Chicago White Sox continue to field calls for pitcher Garrett Crochet and OF Luis Robert Jr., though a deal for either doesn't sound imminent, according to general manager Chris Getz. At least 10 teams have inquired about Crochet as Chicago begins to whittle down potential trade candidates.

"There are some teams that are more sincere than others," Getz said. "We're still kind of learning. Those conversations will be ongoing. While we're here, we're going to the best we can do for the White Sox, and if that means we make a move, we make a move. But it's OK if we don't."

As for Robert, the front office is hoping prospective trade partners look back to 2023, when he posted a .957 OPS, rather than a 2024 season in which he was hurt and his OPS fell 200 points. When asked if his desired return for Robert is too high based on that recent campaign, Getz said: "It's an appropriate price tag based on the talent that he brings to the table." -- Jesse Rogers

Padres confident in chances of landing Sasaki

If there's one team outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers that is widely considered favorites to land Roki Sasaki, it's the Dodgers' biggest rivals at the moment, the San Diego Padres. Speaking at the winter meetings on Monday, Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed confidence in his team's ability to land the 23-year-old Japanese phenom who will be posted Tuesday afternoon and will pick his new team shortly after next year's international signing period opens on Jan. 15. Shildt brought up the appeal of San Diego, the atmosphere at Petco Park, the opportunity to win the city's first World Series and A.J. Preller's prowess in the Japanese market as factors playing in the Padres' favor.

"I feel like the organization is in a really good place with Sasaki," Shildt said. "If there's an open-market competition to be had, I feel like we're in a good spot for a multitude of reasons."

Another, perhaps even bigger factor is the presence of fellow Japanese starter Yu Darvish, a close friend and mentor to Sasaki. Asked how much Darvish is willing to help in the recruitment, Shildt said, "Yu will be involved. To what degree, that will be up to Darvish, and of course A.J. will help shepherd that. But I do feel comfortable and confident that Darvish will take his rightful spot in doing what he can."

Could Soto's megadeal help Astros' Tucker?

In the aftermath of Juan Soto's massive contract, I'm hearing some evaluators talking about the huge payday ahead for Kyle Tucker, who will be a free agent next offseason. Since the start of 2019: an adjusted OPS+ of 142, .882 OPS, 125 homers, 93 steals in 105 attempts, a Gold Glove Award. He'll be 29 at the outset of the 2026 season. -- Buster Olney

Dodgers planning to play Betts at shortstop

Los Angeles Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes confirmed at the winter meetings what has basically been known for a few weeks now: Mookie Betts is preparing to play shortstop next season, and that's what they're planning for. -- Alden Gonzalez

Giants a team to watch for Fried

As we move forward in free agency, one possible fit worth watching: Max Fried and the San Francisco Giants. He's being evaluated by contenders in the Northeast, too, but some execs wonder what his preference will be if it comes down to San Francisco vs. the two New York teams and the Red Sox. -- Olney

Cardinals manager Marmol on Arenado trade rumors

St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol was asked about handling offseason trade buzz around his star third baseman Nolan Arenado and other veteran Cardinals players.

"You just continue to operate honestly as if they're going to be there until they're not. Those guys are doing a really nice job of that. Speaking to Nolan, he's in a good spot, man. He's doing what he does best because he's working hard to make sure he has a good season."

Red Sox manager Cora on Bregman