Three trade ideas that would liven up Winter Meetings

Juan Soto news dominated the Winter Meetings news last year. And Juan Soto news will likely dominate the Winter Meetings news again this year.

The mega trade that sent the star outfielder from the San Diego Padres to the New York Yankees came just after the close of the meetings last December. However, the trade rumors spread throughout the hotel lobby in Nashville for three days.

Now a free agent, Soto is expected to sign a contract worth more than $600 million sometime between now and when this year’s meetings conclude next Wednesday in Dallas. The meetings begin on Sunday.

However, the thought in baseball circles is that some major trades could go down when executives from all 30 MLB teams get together. Multiple execs have told Draft Nation that trade talk is much more prevalent now than it was last December.

With that in mind, here are three trades I’d like to see happen to liven up this year’s Winter Meetings:

The Chicago White Sox trade left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Baltimore Orioles for corner infielder Colby Mayo, outfield prospect Vance Honeycutt and catching prospect Ethan Anderson.

The Orioles need a top-of-the-rotation starter even if they re-sign ace Corbin Burnes as a free agent. Crochet would provide that type of pitcher, and the 25-year-old has two more years of contractual control before he become a free agent.

Mayo, who turns 23 next week, is a premium prospect who would fit into the middle of the lineup for the rebuilding White Sox. He would not be eligible for free agency until at least 2030.

The 21-year-old Honeycutt was the Orioles’ first-round draft pick this year from the University of North Carolina. Baltimore then chose Anderson in the second round from the University of Virginia.

The St. Louis Cardinals trade closer Ryan Helsley to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Yilber Diaz and center fielder Jorge Barrosa.

The Diamondbacks missed the postseason this year on a head-to-head tiebreaker after reaching the World Series in 2023. The bullpen was a problem for Arizona in 2024 as closer Paul Sewald lost his job in August. Thus, the Diamondbacks could use a top-flight closer like Helsley.

The Cardinals are in a retooling phase as John Mozeliak will retire as president of baseball operations at the end of next season and be replaced by former Boston Red Sox baseball head Chaim Bloom. Diaz and Barrosa, a diminutive 5-foot-6 switch-hitter, both made their major-league debuts this year and would give the Cardinals a couple of pieces that would fit on a roster expected to get younger.

The Milwaukee Brewers trade closer Devin Williams to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Justin Foscue and middle infield prospect Danyer Cueva.

Williams can become a free agent at the end of the season and the small-market Brewers likely won’t be able to re-sign him. So, it makes sense to trade him now.

The Texas Rangers need to rebuild their bullpen after going from World Series champions in 2023 to a 78-84 record last year. Veteran closer Kirby Yates was an All-Star in 2024 but is now a free agent and Williams would be an upgrade.

Foscue, the Rangers’ first-round draft pick in 2020, made his major-league debut this year. However, he is blocked at second base by Marcus Semien.

Foscue, though, would fit nicely into the Brewers’ infield and allow them to shift Gold Glove second baseman Brice Turang to shortstop to replace free agent Willy Adames. Cueva would add to the Brewers’ organizational depth up the middle as a 20-year-old switch-hitter with plenty of raw talent.