9:27 p.m.: The Nationals-White Sox talks appear to be pretty serious.
Sources: Legitimate chance of Sale trade to #Nationals. Robles, Giolito would go to #WhiteSox. Teams haggling over final pieces in deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2016
4 p.m.: As Day 1 turns into Night 1, the trade rumors are starting to intensify, per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #Nationals more focused on Sale than Cutch. #WhiteSox likely would get Robles, Giolito, much more. No indication deal is close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
What do you think? Leave a comment.
Sources: #Mets, #Orioles talking. Orioles prefer Granderson to Bruce. Mets like reliever Brach.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
3:08 p.m.: Teams looking for a little extra power, especially from the right side, might be able to turn to Mark Trumbo.
Sources: Orioles perceive they are not close in talks with Mark Trumbo, and are prepared to move on to other options.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
2:20 p.m.: There’s certainly plenty of speculation centering around the Kansas City Royals, as it’s shaping up to be a potentially franchise-altering winter for KC, just two years after winning the World Series.
This is speculation at this point, but makes sense as TEX looks for CF help: The Royals have told other teams they'll listen on Lorenzo Cain
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
1:40 p.m.: The Texas Rangers reportedly are lurking as it pertains to Andrew McCutchen, which is no surprise given Jon Daniels’ ability to pull off big deals during his tenure as president of baseball operations in Arlington.
Sources: #Rangers in frequent contact with #Pirates on McCutchen. Deal possible, but not close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
1:03 p.m.: Rich Hill, largely considered the best starting pitcher in a remarkably thin pool among free agents, is staying put. The Los Angeles Dodgers just announced they have re-signed the veteran left-hander to a three-year deal.
The Dodgers announce the signing of free agent LHP Rich Hill to a three-year contract.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 5, 2016
The Dodgers, according to multiple reports, gave Hill a three-year contract worth $48 million.
Rich Hill 3-yr $48M deal with #Dodgers
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 5, 2016
12:59 p.m.: With one free-agent closer gone, it sounds as if the market for the remaining “big two” — Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen — might soon start to heat up.
For now, it appears two clubs, maybe more, are all-in in star closer market–Yankees and Marlins–with Chapman and Jansen still on the board
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
12:50 p.m.: The Edwin Encarnacion situation quickly is turning into one of the winter meetings’ most intriguing storylines, as it certainly appears he’s going to start the 2017 season in a new city.
MLB source close to the negotiation tells our Steve Phillips the #BlueJays are OUT on Edwin Encarnacion.
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 5, 2016
12:45 p.m.: It appears Mark Melancon has a new home on the West Coast.
Sources: The Giants and Mark Melancon have agreed to a deal, pending a physical; Melancon is going through his physical.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
It’s going to be interesting to see how this move affects the rest of the market moving forward.
12:08 p.m.: The free agent class for relievers is impressive, and it’s starting to sound like another high-end bullpen arm will be made available through trade, as the Kansas City Royals reportedly are considering trading Wade Davis.
With closer FA market about to roar, one name is buzzing among executives: Wade Davis. He is available and may be likeliest Royal to move.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016
11:45 a.m.: It’s looking more and more likely the San Francisco Giants end up with Mark Melancon, according to reports.
Sources: #SFGiants close on Melancon.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2016
11:43 a.m.: It was only a matter of time before a “mystery team” got involved.
There is said to be "mystery team" in McCutchen talks that has not been mentioned publicly yet. Not surprising. Great player
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 5, 2016
11:29 a.m.: The Boston Globe reported Monday the Red Sox’s No. 1 priority is to find an eighth-inning reliever. Maybe Greg Holland will be their guy.
Red Sox have discussed free agent Greg Holland as setup man. Can Holland return to form from before Tommy John… https://t.co/3AAGz3QzOh
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) December 5, 2016
11:15 a.m.: The first free-agent closer domino to fall could be Mark Melancon.
A couple of times over weekend, Giants felt they were very close to a Melancon deal. Strong belief inside organization that it gets done.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 5, 2016
11:08 a.m.: Here’s an interesting one. The Los Angeles Dodgers apparently are among the suitors for Andrew McCutchen. There’s been no shortage of trade rumors centering around the Pittsburgh center fielder.
#Dodgers have shown recent interest in Andrew McCutchen, source confirms. @MLB #Pirates
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 5, 2016
9:57 a.m.: The Chris Sale market looks like it’s really going to heat up over the next few days.
Perception of outside executives is that #Astros #Nationals are teams trying hardest for Sale #Whitesox, #Braves next
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 5, 2016
9:52 a.m.: Steve Pearce has a new home inside the American League East, according to reports. The outfielder/first baseman spent last season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. He’s also played for the New York Yankees during his career, making this his fourth AL East club.
Sources: The Jays and Steve Pearce agree to a two-year, $12.5 million deal.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
9:43 a.m.: The Atlanta Braves’ rebuild is ongoing, and president of baseball operations John Hart has centered much of his attention this offseason on pitching, signing R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon while also trading for Jaime Garcia. It appears they’ve got some bigger targets, too, as they’ve been linked to Chris Sale and apparently Sonny Gray, too.
#Braves made a run at Sonny Gray. #Athletics never asked for Swanson, but Atl still found price too high.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 5, 2016
8:30 a.m.: If you entered the offseason in need of a bat, you were in luck, as there were no shortage of options. However, that well is starting to dry up a little bit with the reported signings of players like Josh Reddick, Carlos Beltran, Matt Joyce and Matt Holliday.
The Cleveland Indians, according to reports, want to beef up their lineup, but they fell short on both Beltran and Holliday.
Sources: Indians made a strong push at Matt Holliday. Had done the same with Carlos Beltran, as @Ken_Rosenthal said. Need a power bat.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016
Now, the Tribe might have to turn its attention to a familiar face in Mike Napoli.
Cleveland has stayed in touch with Mike Napoli, whose presence and power they loved. He's got a number of suitors. Good price point, too.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016
8:15 a.m.: One of the best three-day stretches on the baseball calendar is upon us.
The Major League Baseball winter meetings technically began Sunday, but they’ll start in earnest Monday morning in Maryland, as executives from every team across baseball (as well as plenty of agents) gather to talk shop.
As always, there figures to be plenty of rumors as some of the winter’s biggest deals — both in free agency and on the trade market — are expected to go down. And if those signings or trades don’t happen, the framework for such deals often are laid.
We’ll be following all the latest news and rumors, so check back early and often for the latest as the hot stove is lit.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images