A look at the winter meetings

The winter meetings officially start tomorrow at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas and conclude with Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft. Many team executives and agents will start arriving at the hotel today.

The actual "meetings" are the boring part; they involve major-league and minor-league folks discussing pedestrian matters such as marketing, training methods and travel logistics. But with everyone under one roof, much baseball-operations business is conducted and completed. That's why the winter meetings are such a meaningful event for you.

Here's a breakdown of what could go down this week:

Free agents on the move

C.J. Wilson.He's most likely to sign first because he is undisputedly the top starting pitcher available. It behooves the other starting pitchers to wait for Wilson to decide, with the Angels, Marlins and Nationals appearing to be his top suitors.

Busy teams

Marlins.They landed their first big signing in closer Heath Bell, and they seem serious about landing Reyes and maybe Wilson. They're less serious, however, about bringing in the pricey Pujols.

Red Sox.With new manager Bobby Valentine aboard, they'll look for back-end starting pitchers (Daniel Bard could convert from setup man) and a closer to replace Jonathan Papelbon (Ryan Madson?) and try to resolve the Ortiz situation.

Brewers.Coming off their first National League Central title, the Brewers will try to move aggressively elsewhere if they can't retain Fielder. They could be a late suitor on Reyes.

Angels.Now having gone two seasons without a playoff berth, and with a new general manager in Jerry DiPoto, the Angels are going aggressively after Wilson and third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

Nationals.They have shown a willingness to spend money no matter how foolishly (see Werth, Jayson). Wilson, Fielder and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson are potential targets. Reyes would make sense, too.

Players available

in tradeJohn Danks, White Sox.With a new manager in Robin Ventura, the White Sox appear to be in a rebuilding mode. Danks has only one year left before free agency. The Yankees and Rangers are interested.

New front offices to monitor

Red Sox.It's Ben Cherington's first go-round as general manager, although predecessor Epstein increased his responsibilities the past few years.

Cubs.With Epstein as president of baseball operations and Jed Hoyer as GM, the historic franchise wants to build a perennial contender.

Orioles.Dan Duquette, back in the hot seat after a forced nine-year break, wants to build up the Orioles' player development program.

Angels.Will DiPoto get more leeway than the recently dismissed Tony Reagins? Or will he have to yield much of the decision-making to owner Arte Moreno and manager Mike Scioscia?

Twins.Terry Ryan succeeds the man who succeeded him, Bill Smith, and tries to get the last-place Twins back to their more familiar locale of the AL Central penthouse.

Just because, five more free agents

New managers at the meetings

Bobby Valentine, Red Sox.Of course. And fitting that he'll be hanging out in the Metroplex, where he got his managerial start with the Rangers in 1985.

Dale Sveum, Cubs.It'll be the laid-back Sveum's first appearance in front of a national media scene since taking over.

Robin Ventura, White Sox.The unlikely choice will try to sell his club's shift in direction to the public.

Teams acting deliberately

Yankees.With CC Sabathia and Freddy Garcia back and their lineup virtually set, the Yankees feel as if they can take their time.

Mets.Just a matter of watching Reyes do his thing and waiting for the closer market to drop to them.

Rays.The Rays have an abundance of starting pitching, but they won't rush to unload that excess. They rarely make a bad trade.

Rangers.With Joe Nathan aboard to close and Neftali Feliz shifting to the starting rotation, the Rangers needn't panic when they (probably) lose Wilson.

Potential Hall of Fame honorees

On Monday, the Veterans Committee will announce the winners, if any, from its Golden Era ballot, featuring people who impacted the game primarily from 1947 through 1972.