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MLB Winter Meetings 2023: Free agency, trade updates on Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, others

Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY NETWORK
·11 min read

For some, the MLB offseason doesn't truly begin until the MLB Winter Meetings. This year's iteration descends upon Nashville, a city hoping for an expansion team sometime in the near future. For 2023, however, locals will have to settle for being the hub of a heating up hot stove.

The Mariners and Braves gave an amuse-bouche of what to expect in the coming days, with the Braves acquiring Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, Evan White, and cash for pitchers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips. But all eyes are on free agency, where the biggest domino in MLB history is expected to fall soon.

The MLB Winter Meetings will be held from Sunday, Dec. 3 to Wednesday, Dec. 6. They are in Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani — who will be limited to his bat next year after undergoing elbow surgery late last season — is expected to make his highly-anticipated decision this week, according to Jon Morosi. Last year, names like Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, Xander Bogaerts, and Trea Turner came off the board around this time. This season, the splash could be even bigger.

While free agents are the focus, it's also a time for MLB executives to rub elbows. Juan Soto is rumored to be on the block after the Padres disappointed last year, with the Yankees as a prospective suitor. The position player free agent market is thin, so players may be looking to wheel and deal to fill out their rosters.

REQUIRED READING: Nightengale's Notebook: 10 questions heading into MLB's winter meetings

Finally, Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the most coveted non-Ohtani name on the market. The Orix superstar is coming off a 16-6 season in which he posted an ERA under 2.00 for the third straight year. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award — NPB's Cy Young analog — for the third straight season for his efforts.

Here are the latest updates and rumors from this year's Winter Meetings.

2023 MLB Winter Meetings updates

Soto deal to Yankees is in the works after trade for Alex Verdugo

The Yankees dealt for Alex Verdugo Tuesday night, adding an outfielder, but not the one Yankee fans expected.

Not content to sit on their hands, however, Jack Curry is reporting the Yankees may be in the final stages of acquiring Soto from the Padres, with a package that features Michael King and Drew Thorpe as headliners. It appears medicals are the final hurdle to the Yankees getting Soto.

Ohtani not expected to sign at Winter Meetings

Even as Ohtani rumors swirl, including talks of him signing by the end of the week, it looks like it isn't going to happen while teams are in Nashville.

Jon Heyman reported Monday both Ohtani and Yamamoto are expected to still be on the markets after Wednesday, though that does potentially narrow the window in which Ohtani might sign.

"I don't think Ohtani is gonna get done here," Heyman said. "I don't think Yamamoto is gonna get done here."

Cardinals controllable outfielders on the block

When the Cardinals called up Jordan Walker last season, it was clear one of their controllable outfielders would be left out in the cold. Lars Nootbaar is under team control through 2027 and Tommy Edman is through 2025. Tyler O'Neill, meanwhile, is a free agent after this year, leaving him the odd man out.

According to Derrick Goold, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed interest in O'Neill, and an interest in dealing him.

“Tyler O’Neill is somebody we are listening to on trades,” Mozeliak said “Getting a lot of hits on our outfielders. We’re going to see what that does for us.”

Padres intent on moving Juan Soto, but pending Ohtani signing stalling things

There is plenty of prognostication about the fate of Soto, with the Yankees coming up as the most covetous team of the 25-year-old outfielder. But amid all of the national noise, local San Diego reporter Sammy Levitt says the Padres are being patient with their star.

"There certainly does seem to be a pretty wide consensus the Padres will ultimately find a way to trade Juan Soto either here at the meetings or later on this winter..." Levitt said. "....A lot of interest on how Shohei Ohtani could impact the Soto trade market." Levitt did leave the door open to keep Soto, but it ultimately seems to be an unlikely scenario.

Atlanta Braves involved in Shohei Ohtani talks

As the usual suspects (Dodgers, Cubs, Giants) continue to emerge in Ohtani talks, Jon Morosi believes the Braves are under-reported suitors for the superstar.

Atlanta has won 100-plus games in each of the past two seasons, won the NL East six years in a row, and has a World Series win from 2021. The Phillies have bested the Braves in each of the past two seasons in the NLDS, but the pedigree for success is clearly there.

It would be well outside the modus operandi of Alex Anthopoulos, who generally works within his system and trades, but the Braves have already missed out on Sonny Gray and Aaron Nola this offseason. Ohtani doesn't rectify any rotational issues yet, as he won't pitch in 2024 while recovering from his surgery. But he doesn't have to, with Max Fried and Charlie Morton hitting free agency after next season, not this one.

Mariners trade Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, Evan White, cash to Braves for two right-handed pitchers

Jerry Dipoto experienced the final stage of buyer's remorse, as he and the Mariners moved off Evan White's contract in a deal with the Braves.

White and his $7 million 2024 and $8 million 2025 salaries were packaged with Kelenic, Gonzales, and cash for Atlanta's Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips. It's Kowar's second time being dealt this season, as the Braves gave up Kyle Wright for him after a down year in Kansas City. Phillips was picked in the second round of the 2022 draft, but was stashed as he recovered from Tommy John surgery he had before the draft.

Brewers ink star prospect Jackson Chourio to deal worth $82 million guaranteed

Voiding controllable years is a practice that has only become more common in MLB, and the Brewers continued the trend Sunday.

Milwaukee signed MLB Pipeline's No. 2 prospect Jackson Chourio to an eight-year deal with two club options worth a minimum of $82 million, with escalators up to $142.5 million. Chourio, 19, joins Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox), the aforementioned White (Mariners), Eloy Jimenez (White Sox), Scott Kingery (Phillies), and Jon Singleton (Astros) as the only players to be extended without any MLB service time.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto talks quiet, for now

For anyone holding their collective breath for Yoshinobu Yamamoto news, exhale before turning purple.

The Orix Buffaloes superstar is expected to have final meetings this week after Winter Meetings. There has been some crossover between his reported suitors and Ohtani's, so that deal being signed could be an obstacle.

MORE: Will Nashville get an MLB expansion team? Winter Meetings bring spotlight to Tennessee

Shohei Ohtani rumors

Ohtani down to Dodgers, Blue Jays

Ohtani may have his destinations narrowed to two places: Sunny Southern California or the Great White North of Canada.

Tom Verducci reported on MLB Network Ohtani has narrowed his prospective destinations to either the Dodgers or Blue Jays, keeping in line with the seriousness with which he has been speaking to certain teams. That isn't to say another team can't swoop in and land him, of course, but with two teams very motivated to win and win quickly, it's a reasonable final two spots for a player who seemingly feels similar urgency.

Cubs' hopes have dropped in landing Ohtani

The Cubs are seemingly down if not out on landing Ohtani, per Bob Nightengale.

Long-considered one of the final destination spots for Ohtani, Nightengale reported the Cubs' hopes have "significantly waned," leaving it down to the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Angels, and Giants.

Dave Roberts says Dodgers met with Ohtani several days ago

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers met with Ohtani in Dodger Stadium several days ago.

It's no secret there is heavy interest from the Dodgers in Ohtani, as they look to lock in the generational talent. Roberts said "I think it went well" of the meeting.

Ohtani reportedly met with Blue Jays in Florida

In speaking of non-West Coast suitors, it appears Ohtani may have met with Toronto in its Dunedin facility, per Ken Rosenthal.

The rumor mill has been kicking up between the Blue Jays and Ohtani, but as of now, it's still speculative how serious talks are.

Shohei Ohtani landing spots

There is simply no talking about 2023 MLB free agency without talking about Ohtani. Him being signed will likely set off a cavalcade of contracts as teams tie up money to negotiate with him.

Several names have been tied to Ohtani time and time again, including the incumbent Angels, but that scenario is viewed as unlikely after the debacle of the past few years. Here are some of most likely possibilities to land Ohtani:

Dodgers

There's a chance Ohtani moves from Orange County to Los Angeles to play in Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers have the monetary backing, the winning pedigree, and the geography to be a viable spot for the superstar.

Ohtani hasn't yet made the postseason, and the Dodgers haven't missed the playoffs since 2012. It may be a frontrunner pick, but Andrew Friedman has a way of landing the players the Dodgers want.

Cubs

If Ohtani were to leave the West Coast, the Cubs have to be treated as a possibility.

Chicago was one of two non-West Coast finalists for Ohtani in 2017 (the Rangers were the other), and following a solid 2023 are looking to become legitimate contenders again. The Cubs swiped Craig Counsell to serve as their new manager, and while their roster may not be in the same place as the Dodgers', they have the pedigree and pockets to make a push.

Giants

Last season, the Giants got Charlie Browned twice by free agents pulling the proverbial football away from them.

First, it was Aaron Judge reportedly signing with San Francisco before a new deal with the Yankees was announced. Then a Carlos Correa deal was blanched at due to medical issues before he ended up with the Cubs.

In other words: The Giants have a lot of money they want to spend and no one to take it. Ohtani would give them the splash they so crave, and potentially give them the jump they need. The Giants have disappointed since winning 107 games in 2021. Ohtani immediately vaunts them in NL West conversations up against the perennial powerhouse Dodgers and defending NL champion Diamondbacks.

Blue Jays

The DEFCON level in Toronto is seemingly dropping at a rapid pace, with the Jays being tied to Soto and Ohtani. They've lost in the wild card in two straight years by a combined 4-0, and haven't won a playoff series since 2016.

The fans up north are antsy, and with a roster that consistently fields the most All-Stars in the AL — thanks in no small part to suspected ballot stuffing, to be fair — Ohtani would be a massive swing by a front office that doesn't tend to be especially aggressive in free agency.

Braves

Per Morosi's report, the Braves have emerged as serious players for Ohtani.

It would be a somewhat surprising development if Atlanta swooped in and grabbed the two-way star, given Atlanta doesn't usually move so loudly in free agency. Perhaps two straight disappointing finishes to a division rival, however, could be the stick.

Ohtani joining the Braves is a daunting prospect for MLB with the talent already on that roster. But the Braves have to be all-in with that roster, and Ohtani would certainly demonstrate that.

Angels?

Even if they're an also-ran, the incumbent always gets a look.

Perry Minasian has a lot of reasons to do whatever it takes to retain Ohtani. To have Ohtani and Mike Trout on a roster and never make the postseason with them together is a highly embarrassing prospect. But it's hard to see Ohtani back in Anaheim.

Ron Washington will be taking over for Phil Nevin, and the Angels historically simply don't spend what it would take to sign Ohtani. Perhaps they break the bank this season. But time will tell.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MLB Winter Meetings 2023: Free agency, trade updates on Ohtani, Soto