2012 MLB Free Agency: 8 Bold Predictions for Winter Meetings

Next month, representatives from all 30 MLB teams will meet together in Dallas, Texas to discuss many issues.  The topics of conversation will be free agency, trades, and the general future of the game.

In recent years, during these meetings, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (pictured) has pulled off some surprising trades that have often made his team better.  Given the number of players who could be available, this could easily happen again.

A lot of issues will be on the table, so let's dive right in.  I have, for you devoted readers and MLB fans, eight predictions for what I believe will happen at this year's winter meetings.

No. 8: Heath Bell Will Sign with the Boston Red Sox

Now that Jonathan Papelbon has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, I'm anticipating that the next closer to sign a contract will be Heath Bell.  The big righty has been the closer for the San Diego Padres for the past three seasons, posting 132 saves over that stretch.  Despite the fact that he wants to stay in San Diego and seems willing to take a hometown discount, I just don't see Bell staying in Southern California.

That being said, especially since Jed Hoyer has departed the Padres for the Chicago Cubs, I'm expecting Bell to be on a new team in 2012.  That team will be the Boston Red Sox.

Sure, the Sawx have a cheaper option in Daniel Bard that could easily step into the role, but he hasn't really been tested as a ninth inning guy yet.  On top of that, his pitching repertoire is pretty one-dimensional compared to other closers.

Thus, new GM Ben Cherington will look to make a big splash in his first season on the job and he will do so in signing Bell, probably offering him too much money in the process.

No. 7: Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer Will Trade Alfonso Soriano

After nine years as GM of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein is now the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs and his former co-worker in Boston, Jed Hoyer, is his GM.  These two executed the biggest trade of the offseason last year when Hoyer, then with San Diego, sent All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox for prospects.

This offseason, at the winter meetings, I'm predicting that these two will pull off another big trade that only works in the Cubs' favor.  They have a pair of enormously bad contracts in outfielder Alfonso Soriano and pitcher Carlos Zambrano.  Seeing as how Epstein has already reported to ESPN that Zambrano will be part of the team in 2012, the contract that will be moved belongs to Soriano.

The 35-year-old has three years and about $51 million remaining on his contract and while he is not a bad player by any means, he has just started to slow down since coming to the WIndy City.  Yet, his bat still has some pop and when push comes to shove, some team will be willing to take him.  Thus, I have a feeling that Epstein and Hoyer will move Soriano, and quickly.

No. 6: The Cubs and Red Sox Will Work out a Compensation Package

There is a slight catch to Theo Epstein leaving the Boston Red Sox for the Chicago Cubs.  Since he left the team with a year left on his contract, the Cubs need to send some form of compensation to Boston.  Thus, Cubs ownership and new Red Sox GM Ben Cherington (pictured) have been in constant negotiation over this for the past few weeks.

In all honesty, the fact that both parties can't agree on which insignificant minor leaguers to include in the compensation package is kind of ridiculous.  Thus, at this year's winter meetings, I'm guessing that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will step in and pull rank, ultimately forcing the two sides to a deal.

No. 5: The Astros' Move to the American League Will Be Finalized

By Thursday, Drayton McLane (pictured) will have sold the Houston Astros to Jim Crane.  Shortly afterward, I'm expecting that a deal will be set in place for the team to move to the AL West in the next couple of years, as has been discussed for some time now.

Crane has all the reason to agree to this, as it means he will be getting the Astros at a discount.  More importantly, it will even out both leagues, giving each one 15 teams.

The even better part is that a new AL rivalry will be born out of this switch, seeing as how the AL West will now have two Texas teams.  I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited for that.

No. 4: C.J. Wilson Will Be Forced to Take a Contract Lower Than He Wants

A number of teams have shown interest in free agent lefty starter C.J. Wilson, namely the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.  Yet, there is one major bump in the road that could prevent Wilson being signed quickly.

You see, Wilson has stated his desire for a contract in the $100 million range.  The man is talented, but I would probably laugh in his face if I were a GM and he came asking for that type of money.

Wilson went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA, 206 strikeouts and 1.19 WHIP in 2011 as he was instrumental in getting the Texas Rangers to their second consecutive World Series.  Yet, therein lies the reason that Wilson doesn't deserve a contract that big.

The fact remains that in the postseason this year, Wilson basically choked.  He went 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA and horrible 1.71 WHIP.  I don't know about you, but I wouldn't give $100 million to someone who did that badly in October.

Thus, after taking the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays to mull it over, I believe that C.J. Wilson will have a reality check and not have such a hardline stance regarding his new contract.  In the end, I can see him signing for five years and $70 million.

No. 3: Brian Cashman Will Trade for a Starting Pitcher

When it comes to trades at the Winter Meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman is not one to be messed with.  In 1999, shortly after the conclusion of the meetings, he traded for legendary pitcher Roger Clemens, giving up fan favorite David Wells in the process.  In 2009, he traded two prospects in Austin Jackson and Ian Kennedy for Curtis Granderson.

Simply put, the Yankees are just a pitcher away from winning another World Series title.  That being said, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Cashman will do his homework regarding pitchers who could be available and by the time the meetings are over, the Yankees will have a new arm on the pitching staff.

If you ask me, I have a feeling that a prediction I made in a column last week will come true and that the Yankees will be all the better for it.  Watch out, 2012 season.  The quest for No. 28 is upon you!

No. 2: Albert Pujols Will Stay with the Cardinals

Albert Pujols is easily the most popular free agent of this year's class.  With teams like the Miami Marlins already making him offers, the St. Louis Cardinals need to move fast if they want to retain him.

Yet, if I know Pujols, he'll be a man and not become the LeBron James of the baseball world.  He has many ties to the community in St. Louis, not to mention the fact that his whole family is there and he just won his second World Series Ring.  When the time comes, he and the team will eventually come to a deal, and quickly.

Instead of being a long and drawn-out process, the Pujols deal will get done in a quick and painless manner.

Sorry, Marlins.  Guess you'll just have to bank on Jose Reyes.

No. 1: An Agreement Will Be Reached on Playoff Expansion

For a couple of years now, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has toyed with the idea of expanding the MLB playoff field from eight teams to 10.  Though I am personally against this happening, I can see the perks of it.

Thus, I'm expecting this subject to be the top one on the table once the Winter Meetings begin and by the time they are over, there will be an agreement in place to expand the MLB playoffs in this manner starting either this season or in 2013.  The agreement itself could take a while, but enough teams seem to want it that it could ultimately become a reality.