PHOENIX − The confetti shot into the air at Chase Field has been swept up. The hundreds of champagne bottles sprayed throughout the visiting clubhouse has finally dried. The powerful cigar aroma has cleared the air.
The World Series is over, and just up the street from Chase Field where the Texas Rangers celebrated deep into the night, is where teams will gather to start building a contender for the next Fall Classic.
Scottsdale, Arizona, is where the annual Major League Baseball General Manager Meetings are taking place beginning Tuesday at the Omni Hotel, where all 30 GMs, front office executives and agents will be gathering for the next three days.
The most sought-after person at the meetings will be Nez Balelo, the agent for Shohei Ohtani, who will be seeking the largest contract in baseball history, with more than a dozen teams expected to show interest – willing to fork out in excess of $400 million, maybe $500 million.
Scott Boras, who represents six of the top 10 free agents, including soon-to-be two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and former MVP Cody Bellinger, will be in high demand.
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The most popular executive may be John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has shouted to the world that he never wants to ever endure another season like they just experienced, vowing to add at least three front-line starters, whether it’s through free agency or the trade market.
