The Winter Meetings are shaping up to be busier than they’ve been in years. With the Los Angeles Dodgers going for a three-peat and the AL East locked in an arms race, several major-market clubs are preparing for one of the most active early-December periods in recent memory.
League insiders expect both New York franchises to set the tone when executives gather in Orlando starting Dec. 8, according to former MLB GMs Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on their MLB Network Radio show, The Front Office. But it’s not just the Yankees and Mets making noise — the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros could surprise people with how aggressive they get once deals start flying.
Yankees Ready to Make Multiple Moves
The Yankees are widely viewed as the most motivated team heading into Orlando. Their 2025 season exposed holes everywhere — rotation depth, bench versatility, left-handed balance. They need at least one proven starter, a multi-position hitter, and bullpen stability after leaning too heavily on inexperienced arms.
Bowden thinks they could make two or three transactions during the meetings alone as they try to build a more flexible roster around their core stars. That’s the kind of urgency you see from a team that knows its window is right now.
Mets Could Be the Week’s Biggest Disruptor
Across town, the Mets finished 2025 with one of the thinnest rotations among contenders. Starting pitching is their biggest need entering the meetings, but they’ve also explored adding an outfielder who controls the strike zone and a late-inning reliever.
Some rival executives believe the Mets could be the most active team of the week if the pitching market breaks their way. When you’re that desperate for arms, you tend to move fast.
Giants and Astros Ready to Surprise
The Giants have made rotation stability their top priority after back-to-back seasons defined by injuries and inconsistency. They’re hunting for one or two mid-to-upper-tier starting pitchers and have been connected to multiple free-agent arms.
Buster Posey has already shown how aggressive he wants to be when he pulled the trigger on the Rafael Devers deal last season. Don’t expect him to sit back and wait.
One of the more intriguing clubs to watch is Houston. Despite signaling they’re shedding salaries, the Astros are still trying to compete. Their needs are significant — rotation depth, at least one outfield bat, and additional relief help after injuries thinned their roster in 2025.
Some evaluators think they could leave the meetings with multiple additions. It’s classic Astros — finding ways to stay competitive even when they’re supposed to be cutting costs.
If expectations hold, this year’s Winter Meetings could deliver something the sport hasn’t had in a while: multiple big-market clubs pushing at the same time, creating a frenzy that starts long before the final day. When teams this motivated get together in one place, things tend to happen fast.
