Winter Meetings primer: How will AL East clubs approach offseason’s biggest event?

MLB Winter Meetings: New York Yankees

Well aware that the rival Red Sox could go on a spending spree, the Yankees are certainly prepared to make a few splashes of their own. Ohtani seems unlikely at this point, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bellinger, and Jordan Montgomery are all available and have been frequently linked to New York.

We can also expect Brian Cashman to explore potential trades, including one that involves Gleyber Torres. Although the 26-year-old doesn’t appear to be part of the club’s long-term plans, his youth, reliability, and success could make him an appealing option for other teams. Even the Red Sox, who rarely ever do business with the dreaded Yankees, could look to acquire Torres in exchange for a fellow franchise cornerstone. Do not sleep on a Juan Soto trade, either; if the Padres make their mega-star available, the Yankees will surely be towards the front of the line for his services.

MLB Winter Meetings: Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox enter their first Winter Meetings with Craig Breslow at the helm. Their main focus will be the pitching market. In an ideal world, Breslow departs Nashville having signed two of the bigger free-agent pitchers. Yamamoto and Montgomery are two of the team’s top targets, though they’ll face competition from dozens of other clubs.

Don’t rule out some outfield rearrangements, either. Verdugo’s name continues to be floated in trade rumors, and it’s thought that three different National League clubs could pursue the 27-year-old. If Verdugo gets dealt, we could see Boston move quickly to sign someone like Jorge Soler or Teoscar Hernandez. They might also explore bringing back Adam Duvall or Justin Turner, though it could be a couple of months before they sign.