Shopping & swapping: Top Meetings targets

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’s hit 193 home runs over the past five seasons, second only to Chris Davis in the Major Leagues. And yet Encarnacion’s marketplace is becoming harder to decipher, after suitors like the Yankees (Matt Holliday), Blue Jays (Kendrys Morales) and Astros (Carlos Beltran) seemingly satisfied their slugging needs elsewhere.

Most likely destination: The Blue Jays, if only because it is getting harder to envision another American League team signing Encarnacion to a four-year deal (or longer) and surrendering a Draft pick. Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million offer from Toronto earlier this offseason; signing that deal now would feel like a victory, given his loss of leverage. The Red Sox still loom, if the terms are favorable.

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 is 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: Colorado has the No. 11 pick in the upcoming Draft, so its first-round selection is not protected. Trumbo is also a good fit for the Yankees for the same reasons Encarnacion is. The Yanks need right-handed power, and Trumbo has proven that he understands how to leverage the dimensions of a hitter-friendly AL East ballpark.

Ian Desmond, OF/SS: He’s better positioned …

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