Executives from all 30 MLB clubs gather in Las Vegas for the annual General Managers Meetings, marking the unofficial start of the Hot Stove season. The event focuses on league discussions, trade groundwork and free-agent talks, though major deals are unlikely. New leaders in Colorado, Washington and St. Louis debut in their roles.
The General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas serve as a key offseason gathering for MLB's top baseball executives. Unlike the more transaction-heavy Winter Meetings, this event emphasizes broad discussions on the game and initial planning for roster moves. All 30 clubs are represented, along with most agents, as free agency groundwork begins following its official start late last week.
New Executives on Deck
Three prominent figures enter new roles at the meetings. Paul DePodesta joins the Colorado Rockies as president of baseball operations after a decade with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. He previously served as assistant GM for the Oakland Athletics from 1999-2004 and GM for the Los Angeles Dodgers for two seasons. Paul Toboni, 35, was hired last month as the Washington Nationals' president, rising from intern to assistant GM during a decade with the Boston Red Sox. Chaim Bloom assumed the St. Louis Cardinals' presidency last week after two years as an advisor and prior stints with the Tampa Bay Rays (15 seasons) and Red Sox (chief baseball officer, 2019-2023).
Trade and Free Agency Buzz
Trades remain rare at these meetings, but history includes deals like the Texas Rangers acquiring Jake Odorizzi from the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and multiple swaps in 2015 involving Craig Kimbrel, Andrelton Simmons, Aaron Hicks and Jeremy Hellickson. Last year's San Antonio sessions sparked talks on players like Garrett Crochet and Josh Naylor, leading to an active winter. One executive noted, “At least initially, teams seem more willing to talk about names that they weren’t willing to talk about in the past, so I think that's encouraging.” Subsequent moves included Crochet to the Red Sox and Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks, plus trades of Kyle Tucker, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger, Jonathan India and Jesús Luzardo.
Free-agent discussions will focus on parameters without expecting signings. The qualifying offer deadline is November 18, with 13 players receiving the $22.025 million one-year deal this year. Most are expected to decline, but Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff and Shota Imanaga may consider accepting.