NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Juice has taken a short break from its offseason hibernation, and Big League Stew's David Brown is on the scene of baseball's winter meetings. Stop back on Wednesday to preview what's ahead at the biggest major-league congregation of them all.
Big fish still to be reeled in: Quit holding everything up, Zack Greinke! Just kidding, but the right-hander is the top pitcher available in the offseason, and where he goes likely will help to determine the fates of every other player in limbo. After lots of quiet on Day 1, movement could happen Tuesday. The winter meetings often are reliable for at least one blockbuster trade or epic free-agent signing. Back in 2010, for example, the agent for slugger Jayson Werth and the Washington Nationals held a press conference to announce their union just as the writers were getting into Orlando the day before the meetings began. And Carl Crawford signed with the Red Sox in a franchise-changing transaction that no one regrets. So far in Nashville, the Red Sox adding Mike Napoli (at a much cheaper rate than Crawford) and the Giants re-upping with Angel Pagan have been the biggest done deals. In addition to those chaps (and Greinke), the fate of local resident R.A. Dickey could be decided, either with a trade or a contract extension from the Mets. The entire league seems interested in trading for Dickey and why not? He just won a Cy Young Award and he's in his knuckleballing prime.
[Jeff Passan: Zack Greinke puts rest of pitching free-agent market on hold]
Yankee watch:
With the news that Alex Rodriguez will miss up to six months (after surgery) because of a torn labrum in his left hip, GM Brian Cashman might stop rappelling and start getting creative putting his team in position for 2013. This is what ESPN Buster Olney says:
NYY have been open to talks about Curtis Granderson. If they move his $15m salary, it would provide more flexibility to do other things.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 4, 2012
A-Rod needs new hips, Captain Derek Jeter is retaining water, Curtis Mayfield Granderson might be traded. Sounds like a Yankeepolcalypse!
[Jeff Passan: A-Rod's hip injury reveals fragile state of Yankees' aging roster]
March of the managers: The often-entertaining Davey Johnson and Ron Washington will take questions in the afternoon, highlighting Day 2 of manager interviews. Also, Walt Weiss emerges from the high school ranks to talk Rockies baseball. Fifteen skippers in all!
Already counting down to spring training?
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