Thanksgiving weekend typically brings a lull in baseball, but this year was no exception. A quiet period of four to five days was sandwiched between a significant move by the Dodgers (Blake Snell) last Tuesday and two late-night rotation signings on Sunday (Frankie Montas to the Mets and Matthew Boyd to the Cubs). Now, expectations are high that the action will heat up as teams turn their interest into action before the annual Winter Meetings begin in Dallas early next week.

Red Sox' Winter Decisions and Market Movements

1. The Juan Soto Pursuit: A Red Sox Winter Drama

Juan Soto is the talk of the town among Red Sox fans. Twitter/X is ablaze with discussions about his potential arrival. The Mets and Yankees are both "all-in" on Soto, and there's a widespread belief that the Blue Jays will make the highest offer. While secondary factors like ballparks and geography often get attention, it's usually about the financial offer. A generational talent like Soto will likely go to the highest bidder.The Red Sox have been aggressive in their pursuit of Soto, which came as a surprise. Only one team will land the biggest offseason prize, and the decision is imminent. The big-market teams are vying for his services, and it's a waiting game to see who will come out on top.

2. Starting Pitcher Needs: A Critical Focus

The Red Sox are still in the market for high-end starting pitching, whether they land Soto or not. With Snell moving to the Dodgers, Max Fried and Corbin Burnes are the top free agent prizes. There's no reason these players can't make quick decisions, especially with Snell off the board. However, they might wait for the Soto signing to see if a team that doesn't get him reallocates resources. Garrett Crochet is the top available starter on the trade market, but the Red Sox haven't been the most aggressive. They could also hope for players like Jared Jones, Bryan Woo, or Zac Gallen to become available. The trade market is slow, and the most notable moves so far have been mid-tier pieces. If the Red Sox land Soto, they're more likely to trade for starting pitching, but if he signs elsewhere, they'll likely focus on Fried or Burnes. Other options like Jack Flaherty, Nate Eovaldi, Sean Manaea, Andrew Heaney, Luis Severino, Walker Buehler, and Jose Quintana are secondary options.

3. Bullpen Enhancements: A Key Area

Justin Wilson isn't the last bullpen addition for the Red Sox. Tanner Scott, Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, Kirby Yates, and Tommy Kahnle are all logical fits for an unsettled bullpen group. If Soto goes elsewhere, there's more likely to be a spending spree on relief arms. The Red Sox have a lot of bullpen talent on the 40-man roster, but they could use more certainty. It would be a surprise if they don't make any bullpen moves.

4. Outfield Dynamics: A Crowded Picture

Guessing the Red Sox outfield on Opening Day is like buying a lottery ticket. With Tyler O'Neill testing free agency and a talented group of Duran, Abreu, Rafaela, Roman Anthony, and Rob Refsnyder in the mix, adding Soto or another right-handed bat would make the outfield even more crowded. It's more likely that the Red Sox will trade from their outfield surplus to make a more functional roster. The need to trade will increase if Soto joins, and everything in the outfield is up in the air.

5. Infield Possibilities: Creative Moves Afoot

On paper, the infield trio of Triston Casas, Trevor Story, and Rafael Devers seems set. But there's been talk of disrupting the infield in a creative way to improve the roster. Casas might be traded, Devers could move to first base or DH, and Nolan Arenado is a potential trade target at third base. Willy Adames and Alex Bregman are also free agent targets. Soto's decision will have a ripple effect on the infield as well.