The annual Winter Meetings of Major League Baseball are currently underway in Nashville, and the first major trade of the offseason made headlines on Wednesday: Juan Soto is set to join the New York Yankees. The Yankees had been pursuing the powerful outfielder throughout the offseason, finalizing the deal with the Padres this Wednesday. Although the top trade prospect is now off the market, attention remains on Shohei Ohtani, the league’s premier free agent and exceptionally skilled player, who is still without a team.
Potential contenders for the American League MVP title are starting to emerge. The Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Giants have reportedly held meetings with Ohtani in recent days, while the Angels, his current team, are still in contention for re-signing him. The Winter Meetings, albeit relatively slow until the Soto trade, are marked by anticipation as teams, agents, and players await Ohtani’s decision, rumored to be announced by the end of the weekend. Once Ohtani finalizes his deal, the free-agent market is expected to gain momentum, presenting opportunities, particularly for Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Numerous teams interested in Ohtani are reportedly also considering Yamamoto, and he could potentially secure a contract in the range of $250-$300 million. The annual Winter Meetings
Stay tuned for live updates from CBS Sports, covering the latest rumors, signings, and trades throughout the Winter Meetings this week.
At long last, the Juan Soto trade is complete. The two teams have finalized the trade and it will be made official sometime tonight. The trade is as previously reported: Soto and Trent Grisham for catcher Kyle Higashioka and righties Jhony Brito, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, and Randy Vásquez.