Major League Baseball Awards Season Begins

This is a pivotal week for Major League Baseball as awards season gets underway. The accolades will start rolling out on Monday with the announcement of the Rookie of the Year winners, followed by the Managers of the Year on Tuesday and the Cy Young Awards and Relievers of the Year on Wednesday.

The GM Meetings are also taking place in Las Vegas this week, providing a platform for teams to engage in discussions and potentially make deals. The meetings have been relatively low-key in terms of transactions, but this year's edition could be more significant given the looming lockout that is expected on December 1. Without Winter Meetings scheduled after the lockout, the GM Meetings may become the primary hub for baseball business.

The next few weeks will likely see a surge in activity as teams scramble to finalize their rosters before the impending lockout. In preparation, we have already compiled lists of top free agents and trade candidates, providing insight into the potential moves that could be made.

In related news, the Padres are reportedly among several teams showing interest in Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner. The team's need for pitching depth is acute, with only Joe Musgrove and Randy Vásquez appearing to be locks for the rotation. This has prompted speculation about potential additions.

The San Diego ownership group appears willing to invest in its first offseason, which could signal significant changes on the roster. With the GM Meetings now underway, it will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds.

The Padres are reportedly one of the top suitors for left-hander Tarik Skubal, a highly sought-after free agent this offseason. With his skills and reputation, it's likely he'll receive a significant contract offer from any team interested in signing him.

As a client of Scott Boras, Skubal will be expected to choose the largest contract offer available to him, regardless of the team's circumstances. However, playing for the Padres is not seen as a bad situation, with the team consistently making the postseason and enjoying the favorable climate of San Diego.

Meanwhile, free agent lefty Adrian Morejon is generating interest from teams looking to add a starting pitcher. However, sources indicate that he prefers to remain in a bullpen role, citing his past success in this capacity and his desire to be given opportunities to start in the future.

Morejon's potential as a starter has been noted by analysts, who believe he could become an excellent rotation piece if given the chance. As one of the youngest free agents available at 28, Morejon is expected to have several peak years remaining regardless of whether he becomes a starter or remains in the bullpen.

The Chicago Cubs are looking to bolster their starting rotation through free agency this offseason, despite being lukewarm on signing Tarik Skubal. Their main goal is to secure three established starters, and they have a clear understanding of the current landscape.

With seven of the nine pitchers who started at least nine games for the team last season set to hit the open market, the Cubs are in prime position to make some additions. The only two holdovers from that group are Ben Brown, who is still recovering from a neck injury, and Edward Cabrera, whose 5.96 ERA was a major concern.

As the Cubs navigate the free agent market, they're likely to focus on second- and third-tier starters rather than top-of-the-line talent. This approach makes sense given their existing depth options, which include Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks.

The Mets, meanwhile, are taking a more measured approach after a disappointing 2026 season that saw them finish last in the standings with a record of 74-88. While they could have used a major overhaul, the team is instead choosing to give rookies like Carson Benge and Nolan McLean more runway to develop their skills.

The New York Mets' struggles on the field have continued into 2026, following an 83-79 record in 2025 that left them out of the postseason. Despite significant changes to their roster last winter, which included letting go of key players like Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, the team's performance has not improved.

President of baseball operations David Stearns acknowledged in September that the high level of turnover had created an "uncapped downside scenario," essentially admitting that the team took on too much risk by making so many changes at once. This candid assessment highlights the difficulties faced by the Mets' front office as they try to rebuild their team.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves have made it clear that they are not interested in trading away Ronald Acuña Jr., a former National League MVP who remains a core piece of their roster. While the team's offense has shown signs of stagnation, it seems unlikely that Acuña will be part of any trade package, at least for now.

The Braves have other players who could potentially be moved to address their lineup issues. Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley are often mentioned as potential trade candidates, with Albies entering the final year of his team-friendly contract and Riley having six years remaining on his deal. This makes a move more difficult but not impossible.

In Boston, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was non-committal about Trevor Story's role next season when asked about it on Monday. While he expressed confidence in Story, he also hinted that the team may be looking to transition him into a utility role or even let him go entirely, given the presence of top prospect Franklin Arias.

The Red Sox' decision to keep Arias in the minors for now suggests that they see him as a key part of their future plans, and it's likely that he will make his debut early next year. This development has significant implications for Story's status with the team, and it remains to be seen how things will play out.