So far the 2019-2020 MLB offseason is getting off to a hot start, while the Atlanta Braves have been resigning some of their own Free Agents they signed Will Smith to a 3yr/$39M deal, they also signed Travis d’arnaud to a 2yr/$16M deal, they even signed Cole Hamels to a 1yr/$18M deal. The White Sox signed the top catcher on this year’s market by signing Yasmani Grandal to a 4yr/$73M deal. The Phillies signed one of the market’s best pitchers by signing Zack Wheeler to a 5yr/$118M deal.

The Winter Meetings start this Sunday in San Diego, California where I believe there will be some big free agent deals…. So in this post I will have 3 Bold Predictions, they will consist of 1 free agent signing, 1 big trade, and my prediction of the Houston Astros cheating scandal. I will also compare my bold predictions to some of the other big free agent signings, and trades over the last 10 years at the Winter Meetings.

Bold Prediction #1-

Madison Bumgarner will sign the richest Free Agent contract. Bumgarner will sign with the Minnesota Twins for 5yrs/$125M. Bumgarner has a better track record than that of Zack Wheeler, and Bumgarner will be the veteran pitcher the Twins will need to help win some playoff games this year. According to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal the White Sox gave Zack Wheeler a 5 year deal worth more money, but Wheeler wanted to stay on the East coast so he can stay close to his fiance's family. Back in 2011 the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols to a 10yr/$240M contract.

Bold Prediction #2-

Chicago Cubs trade: 3B Kris Bryant

Los Angeles Dodgers trade: RHP Dustin May, SS Jeter Downs, and OF Alex Verdugo

I don’t know how likely this trade will happen at the winter meetings, but there are rumors that the Cubs might trade Kris Bryant this offseason and I believe that the most likely destination is the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Cubs were to trade Kris Bryant they would be asking for some pretty big prospects from the Dodgers, and the Cubs will get a RHP in Dustin May who could help now and an outfielder who can play center field for the next several years. The last big trade to happen at the Winter Meetings was back in 2016 where the Boston Red Sox traded for Chris Sale and gave up Infielder Yoan Moncada (Red Sox #1 prospect according to MLB.com), RHP Michael Kopech (Red Sox # 5 prospect), Outfielder Luis Basabe (Red Sox #8), and RHP Victor Diaz (Red Sox #28).

Bold Prediction #3-

I have this prediction coming out at the end of the Winter Meeting’s, but I have the punishment for the Houston Astros for the cheating scandal that started in 2017. It will be hard to predict all the punishments Houston will receive. The thing I do predict is that they will receive fines, loss of draft picks, and suspensions. The Winter Meetings will end with a bang with the punishment for the Astros no pun intended.