Who will be biggest targets at Meetings?

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Cubs won the World Series a little more than one month ago, yet it seems as though the offseason hasn’t begun.

Of the eight free agents to reject qualifying offers, only Yoenis Cespedes has agreed to a new contract — and he returned to the Mets.

• Hot Stove Tracker

Andrew McCutchen is a Pirate. Ryan Braun is a Brewer. Myriad White Sox and Tigers trade candidates remain in the same roster spots they were in when Anthony Rizzo squeezed the final out in Cleveland.

But in many cases, that is about to change.

Baseball has a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the Hot Stove is ready to ignite as the industry gathers for the Winter Meetings.

MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington, D.C. 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.

Here are the big-name players to watch this week.

Free agents

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B/DH: He hit 193 home runs over the past five seasons, second only to Chris Davis. And yet his marketplace is becoming harder to decipher, after suitors like the Blue Jays (Kendrys Morales) and Astros (Carlos Beltran) seemingly satisfied their slugging needs elsewhere.

Most likely destination: The Yankees. Just because they signed Matt Holliday, don’t count them out on Encarnacion. It’s only a one-year deal for Holliday, and Greg Bird is still a bit of an unknown quantity. Generations have passed since there was a Bronx power deficit similar to what Yankees fans witnessed in 2016. Beltran played only 99 games for New York, but he still led the team with 22 home runs. That’s the lowest total for a Yankees home run leader (in a non-shortened season) since Graig Nettles in 1974, according to Mike McCurry of MLB Network research. Also, no Yankees hitter surpassed the 70-RBI mark; that hadn’t happened since 1968. Encarnacion’s average over the past five seasons: 39 HRs and 110 RBIs.

Mark Trumbo, 1B/RF: His one-year trip to the Camden Slugging Spa resulted in a Major League-leading 47 home runs, and Trumbo described the season in Baltimore as the most enjoyable of his pro career.

Most likely destination: The Rockies. Colorado GM Jeff Bridich wants to win now, and he’s increasingly confident that his long-maligned rotation is sturdy enough to do it. But the Rockies must score big to win, and Trumbo — along with Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez — would help them do that. One concern: The Rockies have the No. 11 pick in the upcoming Draft, so their first-round selection is not protected. Trumbo is also a good fit for the Yankees for the same reasons Encarnacion is. The Yankees need right-handed power, and …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com