With so many big names still available via free agency or trade, this year’s Meetings in San Diego should be eventful. Jim Duquette ranks the 10 teams and/or people who will be the busiest.

Ben Revere expects a pain-free expression on his face in 2015. He carried an anguished look through much of 2014 as a screw in his right ankle literally touched a nerve. He made light of his frequent wincing to fans Saturday evening as he helped the Phanatic and the Phillies light the Christmas tree in front of Citizens Bank Park. Rain moved the ceremony inside, but the job got done.

Reds pitcher Mike Leake knows he’s in a situation that’s not unique to his team — or the starting rotation. Leake, who is arbitration-eligible for the third and final time, is one of four starting pitchers on the club who are a year away from becoming free agents.

Most offseasons, it’s hard to locate Reds pitcher Homer Bailey because he’s usually way off the grid. Bailey, an avid outdoorsman and bow hunter, often travels to remote outposts of the country for weeks at a time. Not this offseason. Bailey, who had Sept. 5 surgery to repair a torn flexor mass tendon near his elbow, has remained home in La Grange, Texas, and works with a physical therapist at his local hospital for rehabilitation.

The Padres have avoided arbitration with right-hander Joe Wieland as the two sides agreed Saturday to a one-year contract worth $590,000, according to ESPN. San Diego has not confirmed the signing.

Kevin Cash, who turns 37 on Saturday, stepped up to the plate for the Rays on Friday and once again hit the ball out, a sizzling display of energy, enthusiasm and baseball savvy. The question now is will his encore live up to the impressive, yet demanding expectations placed on him as the Rays’ new manager.

General manager Brian Cashman downplayed the acquisitions of Andrew Miller and Didi Gregorius as simply another couple of steps toward Opening Day. While the Red Sox and Blue Jays have made a flurry of moves, the Yankees had been relatively quiet until Friday.

Back in the days before cell phones, text messaging and e-mails were common, the heart and soul of the Winter Meetings was the hotel lobby.

The D-backs continued their quest to build pitching depth as they acquired left-hander Robbie Ray and Minor League infielder Domingo Leyba from the Tigers for shortstop Didi Gregorius.

After several days of Tigers pitching rumors heading toward next week’s Winter Meetings, Detroit added a young starter, acquiring Shane Greene on Friday in a three-team trade that sent left-hander Robbie Ray and infield prospect Domingo Leyba to Arizona.

If Nick Markakis does indeed opt to undergo neck surgery, it will not come as a surprise to his newest employer. The Braves were well aware of this possibility when they signed the free-agent outfielder to a four-year, $44 million contract earlier this week.

Even from the shores of beautiful Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where David Ortiz is hosting his celebrity Golf Tournament this weekend, the slugger gets passionate about his desire to see the Red Sox sign free-agent lefty Jon Lester.

The Angels may not project as one of the busier teams at the upcoming Winter Meetings, but their general manager, Jerry Dipoto, said they’re “keeping an eye toward opportunity” nonetheless.
And no venue breeds opportunity like the hotel baseball executives, player agents and media members will gather at in San Diego this year. Angels representatives will arrive Sunday with most of their 98-win team intact and a payroll that’s nearly maxed out — but also an open mind as the Meetings officially get underway Monday.

The jersey worn by Madison Bumgarner in Game 1 is one of 57 items the Giants used throughout their triumphant 2014 Fall Classic that are now available via auction.

Maybe the Orioles will one day see the week in which they said goodbye to Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis as one in which their discipline and smarts paid off. The Cardinals made a similar tough call three years ago in allowing Albert Pujols to depart, and they kept going to the postseason.

Martin Prado, whose defensive versatility is a major part of the Yankees’ planning for 2015, has said that he has fully recovered from his season-ending appendectomy and will be taking ground balls at several infield positions.

The Mariners unveiled their new right-handed power hitter Thursday at Safeco Field, introducing outfielder Nelson Cruz at a Safeco Field news conference.