10 biggest holes to fill at Winter Meetings

We’ve already seen quite a few instances of Major League needs being satisfied with some Hot Stove spending or swapping — the most prominent move being the Red Sox’s $217 million outlay for David Price to be their ace. But with the Winter Meetings set to begin Monday in Nashville, Tenn., and several big free-agent fish and notable trade targets still being discussed, these are the 10 biggest needs still yet to be met.

Timing was right for Red Sox to secure Price

The fact that the Red Sox are ready to sign David Price to a record-setting contract for a pitcher (seven years, $217 million pending a physical) demonstrates more than a desire to get out of last place in the American League East and an admission that going into 2015 without an ace wasn’t good for business.

Torre, Winfield, big leaguers to visit Cuba

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) will embark on an historic goodwill tour in Cuba from Dec. 15-18. Hall of Famers Joe Torre, MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer, and Dave Winfield, the MLBPA’s Special Advisor to the Executive Director, will be joined by a group of current Major League players, who will be announced at a later date.

Minor headed to free agency

The Braves are not expected to tender contracts to lefty Mike Minor or infielder Pedro Ciriaco before Wednesday’s 11:59 p.m. ET deadline to do so. Atlanta is, however, expected to tender contracts to each of its other arbitration-eligible players — Shelby Miller, Chris Withrow and Arodys Vizcaino.

Shore thing: NJ lefty No. 1 on Top 50 Draft list

Six months prior to the 2016 Draft, the class is beginning to take shape. MLBPipeline.com’s Top 50 Draft Prospects list reflects what that class looks like at present, led by four pitchers — New Jersey prep lefty Jason Groome, Florida southpaw A.J. Puk and right-handers Alec Hansen of Oklahoma and Riley Pint of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Kansas.