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10 bold predictions for the winter meetings

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball executives will assemble in Maryland on Monday for the annual winter meetings.

There's expected to be no shortage of signings and trades over the four-day event, as the likes of Andrew McCutchen, Justin Verlander, Chris Sale, Edwin Encarnacion, and Aroldis Chapman are all available.

In anticipation of the winter meetings, the MLB editors at theScore took a shot at making some bold predictions for the days ahead:

McCutchen gets dealt to the Cardinals

After all their interest, the Nationals are going to come up short in their attempt to land the Pirates center fielder due to their reluctance to give up top up-and-comers like Lucas Giolito and Victor Robles. Instead, John Mozeliak and the Cardinals will swoop in with a respectable mixed offer consisting of the club's big-league names and its prospects, leading to McCutchen seeing out the rest of his team-friendly deal at Busch Stadium. - Jonathan Soveta

Diamondbacks trade Greinke

With no attachment to his current roster, general manager Mike Hazen will hit the winter meetings looking to rid himself of Zack Greinke's massive contract. The move will be a tough, but rather necessary one for the Diamondbacks, who have already shown an eagerness to save money with the non-tendering of catcher Welington Castillo. Given the weak free-agent starting pitching market, there should be suitors for Greinke, despite him coming off a poor first season in the desert. Arizona will have to either eat a large chunk of the remaining $172 million on his salary, or receive less of a return, but getting out from under the weight of his contract will provide Hazen much more flexibility moving forward. - Brandon Wile

Rockies break the bank for Chapman

Having amassed some excellent young talent over the last few years, the Rockies would like to push their way back into contention, and overpaying for relief help is going to be their chosen route. Though they've been connected to Mark Melancon, a Colorado native, GM Jeff Bridich will secretly be pushing for a bigger target, and he'll shock baseball by luring Aroldis Chapman to Denver with a record contract for a closer. Sure, spending big on pitchers hasn't worked out for the Rockies in the past, but Chapman and his 100-mph fastball out of the bullpen is a bit different than Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. By overpaying to lure Chapman to Coors Field, they'll signal an intent to win now, and not waste Nolan Arenado's prime. Whether the thin air affects Chapman's heater remains to be seen - but for Bridich and Co., that's a risk they'll say is worth taking. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

Blue Jays land Braun

The Blue Jays and Ryan Braun are a match made in heaven, except for the fact that the former MVP is slated to make $76 million through 2020. Barring the money factor, imagine this: Let's assume the Blue Jays lose out on both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. One of the scariest lineups in baseball automatically gets weaker, but there's still Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, and Kendrys Morales in the order. An outfield of Melvin Upton Jr., Kevin Pillar, and Ezequiel Carrera is far from daunting, so slotting Braun into right field would be perfect because it gives the Blue Jays an everyday guy with pop, who regularly plays 135 games a season. In exchange, Toronto could send over outfielder Dalton Pompey, and a slew of pitching prospects that aren't limited to Ryan Borucki, T.J. Zeuch, and Sean Reid-Foley. - George Halim

Red Sox get more power, acquire Frazier from White Sox

The Red Sox offseason thus far has been underwhelming, but trading for one of the better power hitting third baseman will change that. The Red Sox won't need to spend hefty dollars to replace David Ortiz, and instead will trade for Todd Frazier. The White Sox have made it clear the team is willing to sell, and one fit for the Red Sox is Frazier, who would be an even bigger threat in Fenway Park. The 30-year-old's home run totals have jumped from 19 to 29 to 35 to 40 in the last four years, and he could even split time with Hanley Ramirez at first base - a position Frazier is familiar with having started 81 games there throughout his career. Since Pablo Sandoval is a tough sell, Travis Shaw would be the odd man out but Frazier is an upgrade on both, and would give the division winning Red Sox another piece to an already lethal lineup.- Lucas Casaletto

Fowler signs multi-year deal with Blue Jays

After signing Kendrys Morales to a three-year deal, the Blue Jays will be the ones to spend the dough to secure free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler, thus ending any chance of them re-signing Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Fowler will fortify the lead-off spot in Toronto in front of Josh Donaldson, giving them a player who got on-base at nearly a .400 clip for the World Series champion Cubs in 2016. - Bryan Mcwilliam

Tigers trade Cabrera, Martinez to Rangers

Eager to add some much-needed offensive firepower this winter after losing Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Gomez, and Prince Fielder to free agency and early retirement, Rangers GM Jon Daniels swings a deal for two veteran bats from the Motor City. Trading for Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez secures the Rangers' need for both a first baseman and designated hitter, while making the lineup powerful enough to rival the Astros in the division. Texas has more than enough prospect capital needed to meet the Tigers' needs, while their payroll situation would allow them to absorb both contracts. - BW

Cubs swing cross-town deal for Sale

When White Sox GM Rick Hahn said he wouldn't exclude the Cubs from significant trade talks, he meant it. Sale has been rumored to be on the way out for months now, and after the throwback uniform fiasco in July, it's almost impossible to see him in the South Side next season. He will, however, be in Chicago. The Cubs are full-steam ahead in win-now mode, though they need a starter after letting Jason Hammel become a free agent. The price will be steep, as the White Sox will no doubt ask for top Cubs prospect Ian Happ, but Cubs president Theo Epstein will work his magic again, managing to keep Kyle Schwarber. - JS

Braves acquire another starter, trade for Verlander

Kate Upton won't need to worry about her future husband gathering AL Cy Young votes any longer, as a shift to the NL will be in the cards for Justin Verlander. With the Tigers coming to terms with the idea of a rebuild, the biggest shock of the offseason will come in the form of trade, when the Braves deal for the 33-year-old ace. The team from Georgia have not only kept busy this offseason signing pitchers Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey, but also have the luxury of a prime prospect pool and are being linked to Chris Sale and Chris Archer on the trade market. The aforementioned 43-year-old Colon and 42-year-old Dickey won't be in Atlanta long, so once their combined $20-million salary expires next season, the Braves starting rotation will still be deep with Julio Teheran, newly acquired Jaime Garcia, promising young starter Mike Foltynewicz, and Verlander. - LC

Dodgers include Puig in package to Twins for Dozier

The Dodgers are long overdue trading Yasiel Puig, and they need a second baseman. There are probably more reasons than we know why L.A. could get rid of the outgoing outfielder, but nevertheless, he's a trade chip. On the other hand, the Twins have repeatedly said that they would need to be blown away if they were to trade Brian Dozier. Well, the Dodgers have the players to deal in a trade, and they need a second baseman. Money isn't an issue for the Dodgers, and if they can bring back Rich Hill, don't be surprised to see Puig and maybe even Julio Urias on their way to the Twin Cities, and Dozier to sunny Chavez Ravine. - GH

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