HBT: Could be big signings at winter meetings

Expect the rumors to come fast and furious as the league?s top executives?converge on Dallas. The winter meetings officially start Monday, but the general managers will arrive and start talking among themselves this afternoon. With so much of the free-agent talent congregated at a few select positions, there could well be more trades than usual, and chances are we?ll see at least a couple of significant signings over the next few days. Some potential highlights:

- Starting pitching trades ? Since the pitching market beyond C.J. Wilson and?Mark Buehrle is pretty barren, many familiar names will be tossed around this week. There has been plenty of talk about Oakland?s Gio Gonzalez, Atlanta?s Jair Jurrjens and Houston?s Wandy?Rodriguez?already. The White Sox may be open to moving either John Danks or Gavin Floyd. There?s also the Rays? James Shields, the Cubs? Matt Garza and the Twins? Francisco Liriano, none of whom are certain to be available but who would generate plenty of conversation.

- A Buehrle signing ? Just two of this winter?s top 20 free agents are currently off the board and those two are closers (Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell). One gets the impression that the top two starters might be the next to go. Buehrle doesn?t seem like the type who will want the free agency process to drag on, and he already has a handful of offers to choose from. Wilson is also a candidate to sign in the next few days, though that process may take a bit longer to play out.

- Closer trades ? The Rockies? Huston Street appears to be pretty much free for the taking, as Colorado would prefer to reinvest his $7.5 million salary elsewhere. Oakland?s Andrew Bailey and Pittsburgh?s Joel Hanrahan would be considerably more expensive, but both could be had by a team not wanting to commit $10 million per year to Ryan Madson or Francisco Rodriguez.

- Mystery teams! ? The big three of Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes aren?t making nearly enough noise at the moment, so it?s definitely time for some mystery suitors to become involved. Of the trio, only Reyes looks like any sort of candidate to get a deal done this week. The Marlins, though, would likely have to step up their offer to make that happen. Possible mystery teams for him include the Red Sox and Tigers.

- A Michael Cuddyer signing ? The Twins want Cuddyer back, and the market is quiet enough that they may not have to go to three years to make it happen. Only the Phillies have made much noise regarding Cuddyer. The Red Sox are unlikely to chase him, and the Indians? interest ended when Grady Sizemore chose to re-sign.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/04/previewing-this-weeks-winter-meetings/related/

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