December might not scream "baseball season" to casual fans, but for front offices and diehards alike, it’s one of the most pivotal months on the MLB calendar. The Winter Meetings are just around the corner, and that usually means one thing: buckle up, because the Hot Stove is about to catch fire.
We’re still a week out from the 2025 Winter Meetings, but that doesn’t mean the market’s been quiet. In fact, things are already heating up.
Two major pitching targets-Sonny Gray and Dylan Cease-are officially off the board, which narrows the field and raises the stakes for teams still looking to bolster their rotations. One of those teams is the Atlanta Braves.
For Atlanta, the early activity around starting pitching is both a signal and a challenge. With Gray and Cease no longer available, the Braves will need to pivot quickly if they want to stay aggressive in what’s shaping up to be a competitive pitching market. They’ve been linked to arms all offseason, and with the top-tier options dwindling, the pressure is on to find the right fit-whether that’s through free agency or a creative trade.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays have already made their move for Cease, shoring up their rotation with a high-upside arm. But they’re not done yet.
Toronto’s front office has its sights set on the bullpen now, showing interest in late-inning relievers like Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias. That’s a clear signal they’re building with October in mind.
The Jays are trying to stack depth and reliability in the back end of their bullpen-something that’s often the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.
Out west, the San Francisco Giants are also in the market for arms, but they’re playing it a bit differently. Rather than chasing the top-dollar names, the Giants seem focused on value plays-guys who might not command headlines but can still eat innings or provide upside at a lower cost. It’s a strategy that’s worked for them in the past, and with a deep pool of mid-tier pitchers still available, there’s room to maneuver.
So while the Winter Meetings haven’t officially kicked off yet, the groundwork is being laid. Teams are positioning themselves, making calls, and setting the tone for what could be a flurry of moves next week. If this early activity is any indication, December is shaping up to deliver the kind of offseason drama baseball fans live for.