2016-17 Winter Meetings

So the winter meetings are upon us and already some deals have went down. Here's some other deals I feel make sense to go down at the Winter Meetings:

Ian Desmond- Texas Rangers:

Desmond hit a rough spot last offseason. Earlier in his career he rejected an extension from the Nationals, and last offseason he rejected a multi year deal from the Nats too. So come Spring Training, Desmond was without a team. Now the Texas Rangers, knowing of Desmond's talent, took a gamble on him signing him to a 1 yr/ $8 mill deal. Now the Rangers had a massive hole in their outfield and their lineup, so knowing Desmond was a good hitter, and very athletic they told him to play center field. And against all odds it payed off. Desmond had one of his better years, especially of recent with the Rangers, being named an All-Star, and overall just being successful. Now come the offseason this year the Rangers still have very little outfield depth, so Desmond is almost a shoe in. He's played on Texas, they took a bet on him, and they're a postseason contender, so it makes sense for Desmond as well. Desmond and the Rangers seem like a very good match and I would be surprised if Desmond went elsewhere.

Brian Dozier- LA Dodgers

So the Twins are a team who needs to rebuild. They need to get a guy they can build a team around, and Brian Dozier is not that guy. Brian Dozier is a great player, I just don't believe he's right for the Twins. In 2014 Dozier was a home run derby participant, and in 2015 made the All Star Team, so Dozier's talents are defiantly not unnoticed, so the Twins must use this to their advantage. Now the Dodgers defiantly are a good fit for Dozier. They lost their second baseman Chase Utley to free agency, and they are defiaitley not in a position to make any big signings for a second baseman, especially in a free agent market with no superstar second basemen. Now the Dodgers have a good enough farm system to give up a few pieces to land a guy like Dozier, and the Twins are a team who would want some good prospects for the future. With the Dodgers losing many players to free agency, a trade for Dozier would help them big time, and for the right pieces it could help the Twins too.

Jose Bautista- Boston Red Sox

So the question in Boston is how do you replace David Ortiz. The answer, you can't, but you can come close, and Jose Bautista is the guy who comes closest in my mind. Bautista isn't coming of the best season of his career but he is still a big threat in any lineup, and has the veteran presence, along with the feisty attitude to fire up a club. These traits Bautista have, mirror Big Pappi. Ortiz was a Veteran player who consistently put up big numbers in a power filled lineup. He's been a huge club house presence and knows how to fire up a team, and even a city. After the tragic bombing of the Boston marathon back in 2013 David Ortiz gave a moving speech to the Fenway faithful. That season after the tragic event the Red Sox went on to win the 2013 World Series, where Ortiz was named World Series MVP. Bautista is a veteran player who's had a lot of experience in a power filled lineup just like the Red Sox's. Jose also has a flare for the dramatics. Who could forget the 2015 ALDS game 5 against the Rangers. The Bautista bat flip was an unforgettable moment from that year and sparked the Blue Jays to win the win or go home game 5. Bautista would fit nicely with the Red Sox and in my mind would be the closest to Big Pappi, David Ortiz as you can get.