MLB Winter Meetings: Five Bold Predictions

Dec 11, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; People walk through the lobby for the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The Major League Baseball world is on their way to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California for the 113th annual Baseball Winter Meetings. The Baseball Winter Meetings is the annual gathering of members of The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Inc. (Minor League Baseball, Major League Baseball and their affiliated clubs.)

The Baseball Winter Meetings has become the culmination of Hot Stove activity over the years, as all the executives are in one place at one time, over a period of five days. So what will happen at this year’s meetings? Some people think quite a bit.

The Seattle Mariners have been tied to several trade rumors and a potential free agent signing here and there. Whether they will do something at these meetings or not has yet to be seen – though they signed Robinson Cano at these very meetings last year.

Here now, I give you my five bold predictions for these 2014 Winter Meetings (in no particular order of boldness).

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1- The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Not Trade Matt Kemp

Despite having several teams allegedly inquiring and making offers for the slugger’s services, my gut feeling is that the Dodgers won’t risk that big of a drop in their offense by losing Kemp after already losing Hanley Ramirez to free agency.

With no Kemp-type bat available on the free agent market to grab after trading him, I feel like the Dodgers will end up moving someone like Scott Van Slyke to free up the logjam in the outfield.

Then, in July near the trade deadline, if the Dodgers are seemingly out of the playoff chase, then they would be more likely to deal Kemp.

So what does this mean for Seattle? It means that they aren’t going to get Kemp and his monster contract. It means that they won’t have to worry about which Kemp they were going to get – the injury prone one or the 2nd half of 2014 one.

It also means – for the time being – that Seattle keeps their young talented prospects (Taijuan Walker, Roenis Elias, James Paxton, D.J. Peterson) and that will make many fans happy.

Sep 19, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) reacts after a strikeout against the New York Mets in the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

2- The Atlanta Braves Will Not Trade Justin Upton

The Braves are expecting to get a “greater return” on Upton than they got on Jason Heyward earlier this offseason. That’s just silly talk. Upton is only under contract through 2015 and my guess is that he is going to test the free agent market next year regardless of who he plays for this year.

But with the signing of Nick Markakis, the Braves – like the Dodgers – have an abundance of outfielders. So despite the fact that several teams are inquiring on Upton – like Kemp – I don’t think the Braves move him.

More from Mariners Rumors

• Could the Mariners Acquire AL Batting Champion, Luis Arraez?
• How the Mariners could swing a trade for Fernando Tatis Jr
• What it would take for the Mariners to trade for Randy Arozarena
• Mariners News: Everything from Day One of the Winter Meetings
• Is Xander Bogaerts Still An Option For The Seattle Mariners?

Instead, I think they will listen to more offers on Evan Gattis. Gattis CAN play in the outfield – though he’s not great – so an American League team would make sense seeing that he could split time in left, catching and at designated hitter.

Chances are, the Braves work out a deal with Texas – one of the player in on Upton – and Upton stays in Atlanta with his brother for the time being.

So what does this mean for Seattle? Just like with the Kemp deal, it means the team doesn’t have to give up young talent, specifically their prized arm (Walker) for one year of Upton. Though some are of the opinion that the Mariners should pull the trigger on that deal anyways, it never did really make sense and it seems now that it likely won’t happen.

Aug 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Melky Cabrera (53) hits a 2 RBI triple during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

3- The Seattle Mariners Will Sign Melky Cabrera

Despite the fact that Cabrera wants a five-year deal and would allegedly prefer to stay in the Eastern half of the country, it is likely he will be willing to sign an incentive-laden four-year deal to come play with good friend Robinson Cano.

The Royals, Reds, Giants and White Sox have all been linked to Cabrera as well, but I think that GM Jack Zduriencik was serious when he said he wanted to improve by adding, not subtracting.

Though some would point to the Michael Saunders trade as a big “subtraction” it’s clear that Jack wasn’t including Saunders in the team’s plans going forward and was going to deal him no matter what other moves were made.

Despite the Biogenesis connection, it’s clear that having a switch-hitting outfielder like Cabrera at the top of the lineup would be a tremendous push in the right direction for this offense. Take a look at the projected lineup.

1- Austin Jackson
2- Melky Cabrera
3- Robinson Cano
4- Nelson Cruz
5- Kyle Seager
6- Logan Morrison
7- Mike Zunino
8- Dustin Ackley
9- Chris Taylor/Brad Miller

Not bad considering what it looked like just two years ago.

Sep 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) pitches the ball against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

4- Jon Lester Will Sign With The Boston Red Sox

I have nothing to support this. I know many people have him pegged to go the Chicago Cubs, while others have mentioned the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and even the Mariners as potential landing spots.

I just think that his history with the Red Sox and the moves they have made acquiring Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval signal an intent to erase last season’s debacle and get back on the track that saw the club win three World Series titles in a 10-year span.

Despite what I was told by a former GM in regard to the Mariners trading Walker for Upton then signing Lester, I never saw it as a viable option. Especially now that the Mariners have another left-handed starter in J.A. Happ, I just couldn’t see them moving a right-handed starter and signing another lefty.

Unless they seriously wanted three lefties in the rotation, I think if the Mariners were going to go after a free agent starting pitcher, they’d go after Max Scherzer. I don’t think the club will open their purse strings that loose, but it would make for one heck of a statement to the American League.