A pivotal week has arrived for Major League Baseball, combining the announcement of major individual awards with the start of the General Manager Meetings in Las Vegas. The awards schedule is tightly packed, with the Managers of the Year being named on Tuesday, followed by the Cy Young and Reliever of the Year recipients on Wednesday. The season concludes with the MVP awards on Thursday. This timing is particularly significant because a near certain lockout is scheduled for December 1, which effectively cancels the traditional Winter Meetings. As a result, this gathering in Las Vegas may be the only opportunity for all team executives to convene in person before the new season begins.
One of the most prominent stories emerging from the meetings is the growing interest in two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. According to MLB Network, the San Diego Padres have expressed a clear desire to sign the Detroit native. The Padres have a significant need to strengthen their starting rotation, where Joe Musgrove and Randy Vasquez are currently the only reliable options. With a new ownership group in place, San Diego appears willing to spend aggressively in its first offseason. While Skubal is represented by Scott Boras, who is known for steering top clients toward the largest financial offers, the Padres offer a competitive environment and a desirable location that could appeal to the pitcher regardless of contract size.
Another key free agent is left-handed pitcher Adrian Morejon. Although he is drawing interest as a starting pitcher, The Athletic reports that Morejon prefers to remain in the bullpen. The 28 year old developed as a starter in the minor leagues but stayed in a late inning role due to his dominance in that position. There is a belief within the industry that he has the potential to become an excellent starter rather than just a back end reliever. Given his age and skill set, he is expected to have several peak years remaining, making him a valuable asset for any team looking to fill either role.
The Chicago Cubs are also actively planning their offseason strategy. Reports from The Athletic indicate that the team hopes to add three established starting pitchers. The need is urgent as seven of the nine pitchers who made at least nine starts for Chicago in 2026 are now free agents. The current roster is anchored by Ben Brown, who is recovering from a neck injury, and Edward Cabrera, who was demoted to the bullpen after posting a 5.96 ERA. While lefty Justin Steele is expected to return from UCL surgery, the Cubs are likely to shop for second and third tier starters in this year's free agent market to build depth.
In contrast to previous years, the New York Mets are not looking to make a major overhaul despite a disappointing 2026 season. The team finished in last place with a 74-88 record, which was a step back from their 83-79 mark in 2025. Last winter, the Mets made significant changes by trading away veterans Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, but the move did not yield the desired results. President of baseball operations David Stearns acknowledged in September that the high turnover created an uncapped downside scenario. However, the silver lining of the 2026 season was the development of rookies Carson Benge and Nolan McLean, both of whom finished in the top four of the Rookie of the Year voting.
The Atlanta Braves have confirmed their intention to keep former National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. on the roster. According to MLB Network, the team is uninterested in moving the star outfielder, despite some perception that the offense may have stalled. It is also unlikely that the Braves will trade other core pieces like Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II, or Matt Olson. The more plausible candidates for a trade are Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley. Albies is entering the final year of his team friendly contract, while Riley has six years remaining on his deal, which makes a move more complicated.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox are keeping their options open at the shortstop position. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow declined to commit to Trevor Story as the starter for next season. Breslow stated that the team has great confidence in Story but that any final decisions will be made privately between him and the player before being announced publicly. The Red Sox have young prospect Franklin Arias, who is likely to make his debut early next year. Arias could potentially push Story into a utility role or force him off the roster entirely.
