The stove was heating up, and as MLB personnel arrived at the Winter Meetings, it truly became a hot topic - the stove, that is. After all, it's December.

Uncover the Impact of Winter Meetings Deals on Fantasy Baseball

The Juan Soto Saga

On paper, the Yankees seemed like the perfect destination for Juan Soto last offseason. He managed to tap into his power and hit 41 homers for the Yankees. Now, he's signed a 15-year deal with the Mets and will be changing boroughs. While some might consider the shift from the Bronx to Queens a downgrade, Soto has had great results in various ballparks. Our friends at FTN have released projections showing his potential with the Mets compared to the Yankees. FTN's 2025 Juan Soto projection if he stayed in the Bronx was 45 HR, 101 RBI,.434 wOBA,.297 BA,.419 OBP, and 115 Runs with 165 Hits. Soto is a top-2 pick in points leagues and a sure-fire first-round pick in category-based leagues, regardless of steals.

Blake Snell's Journey

Imagine if first-half Blake Snell had shown up in the second half last year. He struggled mightily in the first half but was a monster after joining the Dodgers in late March. The Dodgers are looking to repeat, and Snell will be a key addition with the likely loss of Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw. His up-and-down season is a microcosm of his career, but if he uses his improved fastball and lights-out curve at the same rates as before, he could be back in the Cy Young hunt.

Garrett Crochet's Challenge

Garrett Crochet is a pitcher with a lot of potential but also some concerns. Moving from Chicago to Boston is a big win for him, as the AL East presents a different challenge. He's a fastball-heavy lefty pitching in Fenway with the Green Monster. He'll face tougher opponents in the AL East and in other ballparks. Last year was his first as a starter, and there were questions about his workload. His upside is similar to other top pitchers, but there's a chance he doesn't reach it.

Tyler O'Neill's Move to Baltimore

Last year was a pivotal one for Tyler O'Neill to live up to the hype. He hit 31 home runs and had a career-high.336 OBP in Boston. Now, he's heading to the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore is moving the left-field fence, which could help O'Neill reach the 30-homer plateau again, assuming he stays healthy.

Thairo Estrada in Colorado

Thairo Estrada has always been a bit of a mystery. With Coors Field in play, there's some excitement. His exit velocity is low, and his walk rate is not great, but he brings speed. In Coors Field, players like him can take advantage of the big gaps in the outfield. Estrada should play every day and could have a 15/15 season with a.260(ish) batting average.

Michael Conforto in Los Angeles

The Dodgers acquired Michael Conforto, adding an interesting bat to their lineup. While the outfield configuration is interesting defensively, Conforto should play at least as the strong side of a platoon. He hit 20 homers last year for the Giants, and 17 of them came on the road. Lineup protection is often a myth, but Conforto should see an increase in counting stats in Los Angeles. He's a solid OF3 to OF4 for 15-teamers.

Alex Cobb in Detroit

Alex Cobb had a tough year with the Guardians last year due to injuries. But he had a great track record in San Francisco. Now, he's joining a Tigers rotation where the other starters are younger. The Tigers need him to eat innings, and while there are concerns about his health, he could be valuable. Detroit has a spacious ballpark, and Cobb is a splitter/sinker pitcher, so the infielders will need to rise to the challenge.

Danny Jansen in Tampa Bay

The catching market was lacking, but the Rays signed Danny Jansen. He was stuck in Toronto and never became the offensive weapon fans hoped for. Now, playing in George M. Steinbrenner Field, Jansen could hit 15 homers with a.230 average. He's become a top-20 catcher.

Jake Burger's Move to Texas

Jake Burger has bounced around from Chicago to Miami and now to Texas. His power-hitting abilities make him a valuable addition to the Rangers. He followed up his 2023 season with a similar line in 2024 and should continue to be a significant power source without draining the batting average.

Max Fried's Concerns in New York

The Yankees needed a big arm, and Max Fried fits the bill. He bounced back in a contract year but has serious health concerns. His 59.2 groundball rate is in the 96th percentile, and he's changed his offerings. In a small ballpark, this could help, but there's still risk due to his health and the new ballpark.

Willy Adames in San Francisco

Willy Adames landed in San Francisco, but from a fantasy standpoint, it's not ideal. San Francisco suppresses offensive outputs, and Adames is a righty who won't be pull-heavy in this spacious centerfield. Matt Chapman was able to succeed last year, but Adames' exit velocity is at the league average, which will hurt his power. There are better options at shortstop this year.

Luis Severino in Oakland

Luis Severino secured a lucrative contract but landed in Oakland. A year ago, Oakland Coliseum would have been a good landing spot for fantasy, but now, starting at home in Sacramento with its dimensions and likely hitter-friendly environment is scary. His fantasy value takes a hit unless he's traded again.

Frankie Montas in New York

The Mets are trying to get Frankie Montas back on track. He tried to throw his cutter more last season but had a.337 xBA against it. Returning to his splitter as a secondary offering could help him.

Clay Holmes in New York

The Mets plan to use Clay Holmes as a starter, which is an interesting move.

Spencer Horwitz in Pittsburgh

Spencer Horwitz has a unique story as a 27-year-old rookie. He was dealt to Pittsburgh and will be starting. The need for him remains to be seen.

Luis Ortiz in Cleveland

Luis Ortiz moved to Cleveland for Spencer Horwitz. He has the ability to generate whiffs with his slider, and his fastball is decent. Cleveland is a good landing spot for pitchers, so we'll see how his sinker and cutter develop.

Andrés Giménez in Toronto

Andrés Giménez is heading to Toronto after being part of the Francisco Lindor trade. He had a good stretch in 2022 but is mainly a glove-first infielder who can steal bases.

Jordan Romano in Philadelphia

Jordan Romano joined the Phillies after a long career with the Blue Jays. There are clear injury risks with his one-year deal. He'll have the first shot at closing games but may lose the role if he struggles to miss bats.

Matthew Boyd in Chicago

Matthew Boyd signed a two-year deal in Chicago. We hope he can provide innings and stay healthy as an SP5.