Winter Meetings Lite

They don't have the impact of the winter league meetings, but beginning today in Orlando, Florida, the league's general managers will have their annual get together. With new GMs in place in St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta, and LA/Anaheim, the meetings allow relationship building and the chance to start up trade talk on a face-to-face basis.

Unlike the winter meetings, you won't have as many players and agents shopping for jobs, but Scott Boras is sure to be there to lay the initial ground work for any upcoming deals, the obvious one in particular.

Source

The use of instant replay will be a very large part of the meetings. We're still against it though. The games are slow enough as it is.

Trade rumors will begin to pick up steam with so many GMs shooting the shit. Rumors like...

Johnny Damon to the White Sox for Joe Crede. We absolutely hate the idea of this deal. Crede is not the answer for the Yankees 3rd Base issue and if Damon is to be dealt, it should be for pitching.

Brian Cashman will try to get deals done with Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada before they go on the open market.

Atlanta could look to the Reds and Ken Griffey Jr. to replace free agent Andruw Jones.

The Red Sox will try to move Coco Crisp to open a permanent spot for rookie Jacoby Ellsbury. They've already contacted the Padres, who seem to have become their permanent trading partners. Just don't be trying to get Cla Meredith back, Theo.
Update 1:35 pm- The Twins have apparently approached the Red Sox about Crisp, should they not be able to re-sign Torii Hunter. Source

Miguel Cabrera rumors will be sure to intensify, especially now that one of the Marlins beat guys has backed up the story that Peter Gammons reported earlier.

The D-Rays may be looking to move lefty Scott Kazmir now that he is arbitration eligible.