The hot-stove season has been frigid once again, unless you’re fascinated by minor-league signings, the non-tender deadline and reports about free agent Juan Soto’s favorite dining spots in Southern California.
The biggest free-agent signing until Yusei Kikuchi’s three-year, $63 million deal Monday with the Los Angeles Angels was the two-year, $12 million contract for part-time catcher Travis d’Arnaud signed, also with the Angels.
The biggest trade was the Cincinnati Reds-Kanas City Royals swap of infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer for pitcher Brady Singer.
But in conversations and interviews with general managers, executives and agents the past week, they are boldly predicting that the hot stove is about to become enflamed after Thanksgiving, with a flurry of trades, and marquee free agent signings filling the days and nights at the annual baseball winter meetings beginning Dec. 8 in Dallas.
“It’s not going to be like a year ago when the winter meetings were an embarrassment,” one prominent agent said. “Nothing happened… This year is different. Everyone is much more aggressive, or at least they’re acting like it.”
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The same mantra is being repeated by teams and executives, saying that all but perhaps just the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins have playoff dreams dancing in their heads. But there’s a question they are all asking among themselves.
“Who has the money, and…
