As we gear up for the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., there are certain teams that will be notably intriguing too keep tabs on.
With the Winter Meetings frequently enough being a catalyst for Hot Stove action, the spotlight will shine brightly on each of the 30 clubs, but perhaps even brighter on a handful of teams that for various reasons are seen as major players in the free-agent and trade markets.
from clubs with championship aspirations to those holding big trade chips, we asked seven MLB.com writers to each draft an intriguing team heading into the big week ahead:
Philadelphia Phillies
what they’ve done so far: Not much at all. It’s been a quiet offseason in Philadelphia to this point, but that figures to change soon — either as the Phillies start making moves or they start seeing some of their key targets sign elsewhere.
Why they’re in the spotlight: This is a pivotal offseason for the Phillies.Not only have they come up short in their World Series-or-bust aspirations for the past few years, but they are now tasked with handling the free agency of a trio of key contributors in Kyle Schwarber, J.T.Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. The priority is to bring back both Schwarber and Realmuto, while retaining Suárez may be a bit tougher. Having mentioned that, even if the Phillies somehow brought back all three players, the belief is they still need to do something different entering 2026 after back-to-back NLDS exits.That likely includes a makeover in the outfield that could include moving veteran Nick Castellanos. One way or another,the Phils need to add some firepower — and they want it to be more than just Schwarber.
One move they could make next week: Re-sign Schwarber. It feels as if the Phillies could be at a bit of a standstill until this situation gets worked out.if the club is able to lock in Schwarber, then the front office can pivot to filling out the rest of the roster knowing it at least has Schwarber, Trea Turner and bryce Harper back in the fold for next year’s lineup.Of course, as we’ve seen the past few years, the Phillies know that alone isn’t enough — but it’s certainly a good place to start in what figures to become a very busy offseason
Toronto Blue Jays
Why they’re in the spotlight: After winning their first pennant in 32 years and pushing the World Series to extra innings in Game 7, the Blue Jays have made one thing very clear: They are not satisfied. It has already been an extremely active winter for the American League champions. All indications are that they have no plans of slowing down — and their next move could be the biggest one that any team makes between now and Opening Day.
One move they could make next week: Sign Kyle Tucker.Yes, Toronto still wants to reunite with Bo Bichette but after landing possibly the best pitcher on the open market, the
One move they could make next week: The Braves could add a big bat to fill the DH slot and help boost an offense that has struggled for important portions of the past two seasons (the team’s.717 OPS since May 2024 ranks 15th in MLB). Perhaps they swing a trade for a productive outfielder who can be part of a DH rotation that includes fellow outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jurickson Profar to help keep everyone healthy and fresh. A deal for Atlanta-area native Byron buxton would do the trick, but any trade involving Buxton is likely a longshot.
What they’ve done so far: The Padres haven’t done much yet, just a couple of minor bullpen moves. With A.J. Preller at the helm, that should make you think that something’s coming. Especially when you consider that the biggest thing to happen to the Padres so far is that they lost Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays in free agency.
Why they’re in the spotlight: This is a playoff team that has to contend with the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers in its division — and also has some pressure to do better after a disappointing Wild Card Series loss to the Cubs in 2025. But to make it back to the postseason for a third straight year in 2026, San Diego probably has to bring in some new players. It isn’t just losing Cease — other key players like Luis Arraez, michael King and Robert Suarez are free agents. Luckily, Preller and the Padres love making big moves … and lots of them.
One move they could make next week: The Padres’ big needs entering the Winter Meetings are starting pitching (to help replace Cease and potentially King) and a first base/DH-type bat (the Arraez role). Here’s one move that would address the pitching side: signing Tatsuya Imai.Imai’s market is heating up and some executives expect the NPB star to sign by the end of the Winter Meetings. Preller watched Imai pitch in Japan, and earlier this offseason said the Padres would be “fully prepared” for when the right-hander was posted.And Imai wants to take down the Dodgers. Where better to do that than with their division rivals?
Why they’re in the spotlight: After wallowing in mediocrity for so long, the Padres have become one of the most engaging teams to watch in baseball. They’ve made a habit of making splashy moves, and they’re not afraid to take risks. But will those risks pay off? That’s the question everyone is asking.