The MLB Winter Meetings have arrived, and the Boston Red Sox have been active players in the free agency and trade markets in the lead-up to the conference.
Teams expect Juan Soto to sign early in the proceedings, and the end of his record-breaking free agency is sure to set off a chain of deals to follow. The Red Sox are among the five finalists for Soto's services, and whether he comes to Boston or not, his signing will have a massive ripple effect on the rest of their offseason plans.
The Winter Meetings are an opportunity for discussion among teams and agents, among plenty of other things. Here is a breakdown of what the Winter Meetings are, when they take place and the various parts that make up the event.
Red Sox Winter Meetings 2024: Everything fans need to know about annual event
This year's Winter Meetings are in Dallas and run from Dec. 9-12. Front office executives from each team will be present to meet with each other, along with plenty of player agents and representatives, to discuss free agent deals and trades.
There are also a fair few scheduled events that will take place during the Winter Meetings. On Dec. 8, just before the event begins, the Classic Era Baseball Committee will meet to decide if anyone on their list of eight candidates whose major contributions to baseball came before 1980. The ballot features legendary Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant, who passed away in October.
The MLB Draft Lottery will occur Dec. 10. The Red Sox and nearly every other team that missed the playoffs are eligible for a lottery pick. Boston's 81-81 record from the 2024 season gives it relatively low odds of securing a high pick (1.22), but the Guardians got the No. 1 overall pick last winter with slim two percent odds.
The Rule 5 Draft follows the MLB Draft Lottery on Dec. 11. Teams can snag unprotected players from other squads to fill smaller needs for their club with low-cost, small additions. The Red Sox protected pitcher Hunter Dobbins and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from contention, but they have plenty of eligible players who could be taken. However, some are unlikely picks due to their age or standing in the minor leagues — it's unlikely teams will assign a valuable 40-man roster spot to a player who has only reached Double-A ball.
What will the Red Sox do at this year's Winter Meetings?
The Red Sox are still involved in the Soto market and they're desperate for a few rotation arms. Boston inquired about another meeting with Soto and his representation, and if it gets it, Winter Meetings could be the moment to finalize a potential deal.
The Sox have been a popular name in the trade market for Garrett Crochet and they could discuss terms with the White Sox at the Winter Meetings. There are also plenty of other starting pitcher trade candidates Boston could explore, especially with its wealth of young position player talent.