Major League Baseball’s annual GM Meetings kick off today and run through Thursday in Las Vegas. Note that this is not the same thing as the winter meetings, which don’t happen until December. There tends to be a lot less player movement at the November GM meetings (because we’re still so early in the offseason, not because Craig Breslow is going to be spending the night at the blackjack tables), but this edition is being held a week later than usual, so that could change. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
But the GM meetings give front offices and agents a chance to get an early read on some of the more complex offseason questions. These include questions like: what would it really take to land Tark Skubal? Any Red Sox trade package would “start with Payton Tolle and could include Jarren Duran,” writes one veteran beat reporter. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
I’m not sure I see the Sox willing the pay the prospect freight that will take to get Skubal, given that he only has one year remaining on his deal and is highly likely to go to free agency (nor do I think Payton Tolle would be enough to headline the package). But the Sox definitely do need a number two, especially since Garrett Crochet could be a little more tired next season thanks to this:
Speaking of veteran beat reporters, here’s another one who did a Red Sox AMA on Reddit, answering questions about Pete Alonso, Joe Ryan, the outfield logjam, and more. (Ian Browne, Reddit)
Aside from Skubal — who is not going to be dealt anywhere this week regardless — here’s a breakdown of what else to keep an eye on in Vegas. (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)
While we won’t get a ton of news out of Las Vegas for the GM meetings, we will get some news out of New York tonight, as the 2025 Rookie of the Year winners will be announced. We already know that Roman Anthony was one of the top-three vote-getters. Anthony is highly unlikely to win it, thanks to the historic performance of Nick Kurtz. But if he were to win it, he would be the first player since Willie McCovey in 1959 to do so with so few plate appearances. (MLB.com)
But while Anthony isn’t going to take home the hardware, he is going to get to bask in this praise from his manager:
