5 not-so-crazy Winter Meetings predictions

Name a team that doesn’t want a starting pitcher.

(Silence).

That’s right, there’s not one.

Even the World Series-champion Cubs, who have such a strong rotation they didn’t exercise the contract option on Jason Hammel after his 15-win season, would love to find a starter they can count on after 2017, the last year on the contracts for Jake Arrieta and John Lackey.

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Now name the best free-agent starters on the market.

That list begins with Hammel, Rich Hill, Ivan Nova and Doug Fister, unless you know something we don’t about Korean lefty Hyeon-jong Yang or John Danks’ comeback.

Laws of supply and demand tell us that the Winter Meetings that start on Monday outside of Washington, D.C., will be dominated by rumors about Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Chris Archer, Sonny Gray and any other proven starter who theoretically is being made available for trades. Even Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke could surface as storylines.

MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Fans can watch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday at 9 a.m. ET.

As usual, it would be easier to herd cats than make reliable predictions on any business that will be transacted. Here are five surprises that could create a buzz:

A rare ‘312’ swap

No, not that one. Sale to the Cubs? Don’t get crazy.

After dealing Gleyber Torres to the Yankees and saying Kyle Schwarber is “untouchable,” Theo Epstein likely no longer has the pieces to pull off a Sale trade, even if the White Sox really are open to sending him across town.

The all-Chicago deal that has legs would be the Cubs moving in to scoop up closer David Robertson, who is due $25 million over the next two years.

The Cubs need bullpen help with Aroldis Chapman in free agency and Joe Maddon seeming to lose some trust in Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop in the World Series. Robertson’s not Wade Davis, but he could be acquired at a low cost, maybe even for surplus outfielder Matt Szczur if the Cubs take all of the contract.

As …

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