It’s officially hot stove season in MLB.
Right after the 2022 World Series ended, teams had to decide whether or not to pick up club options.
Players needed to decide whether to exercise opt-out clauses or not.
In the upcoming hours, we will have several trades as the deadline to add eligible players to their 40-man rosters or risk losing unprotected players during the Rule 5 draft approaches.
Things are moving along pretty quickly.
Several contenders have re-signed star players, and even a trade or two have gone through.
What about the big fish, though?
Where will they land?
That’s usually a question fans ask themselves at this time of the year, every offseason.
Where will Aaron Judge go?
Will Jacob deGrom leave the Mets?
What’s in store for Justin Verlander?
Will Carlos Rodon stay in San Francisco or go elsewhere?
Experts weighed in on the potential destinations for all top free agents.
“MLB.com polled 50 of its reporters and analysts for their thoughts on where these top free agents will wind up,” the league tweeted, with the predictions.
https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39 polled 50 of its reporters and analysts for their thoughts on where these top free agents will wind up.
What are your predictions? pic.twitter.com/lVlJnhNB1N
— MLB (@MLB) November 15, 2022
Expected Returns And A Few Surprises
Of the top 11 names, experts have Jose Abreu, Brandon Nimmo, Judge, Xander Bogaerts, Verlander, and Dansby Swanson returning to their current employers.
They do have five stars switching teams: deGrom going to the Texas Rangers, Trea Turner taking over at shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, Rodon landing on the New York Mets, Willson Contreras signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, and Carlos Correa heading out to Los Angeles.
Wow.
Those are all realistic destinations: the Rangers are willing to do whatever it takes to lure deGrom to Texas, while the Mets would bring in a top replacement (Rodon) if that’s the case.
There is mutual interest between Turner and the Phillies, and the Cards need a catcher now that Yadier Molina retired.
Stay tuned, because it will be an exciting winter.
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