The winter meetings showcased significant activity, highlighted by the New York Mets' signing of Juan Soto and the Boston Red Sox's trade for Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. The intertwining of free-agent and trade markets has teams reassessing their strategies, particularly with top talents like Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado in play.

Arenado's potential trade from the St. Louis Cardinals is complicated by his no-trade clause and declining offensive stats, even as his defensive skills remain elite. Teams such as the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Red Sox may consider him, but the landscape is influenced by Bregman's market decisions.