Going into the last day of MLB’s Winter Meetings

Winter Meetings have been very productive, but there’s last day may be huge!

If you thought the Winter Meetings in Dallas were going to quiet down after Juan Soto inked his record-breaking deal with the Mets, think again! The hot stove is absolutely on fire, with two surprising names—Houston’s Kyle Tucker and St. Louis’s Nolan Arenado—suddenly popping up in trade chatter.

The Houston Astros, fresh off watching Soto secure a historic payday, might be wondering what lies ahead for Kyle Tucker. This guy has quietly put up numbers on par with Soto when healthy, and with just one year left until free agency, the Astros could consider moving him rather than risk losing him for nothing. Especially if they try to re-sign Alex Bregman, keeping Tucker might break the bank. That’s led to rumors linking Tucker to teams like the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. Of course, the Yankees would love him, but do the Astros really want to help out a longtime rival? Still, stranger things have happened.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals might be ready to part ways with superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado. Despite all his Gold Gloves, he’s coming off a down year at the plate. St. Louis’s front office is reportedly “intending to try” to move him, and Arenado himself seems open-minded—even about shifting positions—if it gets him onto a contender. The Angels and Nationals are teams to watch, and the Yankees could also be a match, giving them a lockdown defender at the hot corner.

These aren’t the only trade rumors swirling. The White Sox could move left-hander Garrett Crochet, and the Cubs’ crowded outfield (with names like Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki) makes them a potential trading partner for teams in need of a bat. The Blue Jays, who lost out on both Shohei Ohtani and Soto in recent offseasons, are also worth keeping an eye on—Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s looming free agency might force them to rethink their entire direction.

On the free-agent front, pitching prices are sky-high. The Yankees locked up Max Fried with a massive deal, setting the bar even higher for top-tier arms like Corbin Burnes. Every contender seems desperate for quality pitching, and some teams are spending like there’s no tomorrow. With Roki Sasaki from Japan now officially posted, you can expect the Dodgers, Padres, and a host of others to push their chips to the center of the table.

Add in some wild-card rumors—like the Dodgers shifting Mookie Betts to shortstop and the Giants looking to muscle in on pitching deals—and you’ve got one of the most unpredictable, action-packed Winter Meetings in recent memory. Everyone’s on edge, and no one wants to miss the next blockbuster move.

Buckle up! As the Meetings roll on, the trade and signing frenzy shows no sign of letting up. All eyes are on the front offices wheeling and dealing at top speed—one big name is off the board, but plenty more are on the brink of finding new homes. Stay tuned! - Dave Carey