On Friday, the Mets signed infielder Donovan Walton, a 30-year-old who has played in 70 games over parts of five big league seasons and will become one more flier for camp and likely a utilityman to watch with Triple-A Syracuse.
With apologies to Walton, the stakes will change in MLB news this week.
Welcome to an important baseball week of the winter, when the hot stove heats up beginning Monday night.
The Yankees are expected to follow the lead of the Mets (on Saturday), the Red Sox (on Thursday) and the Blue Jays (on Friday) as known teams to meet with Juan Soto and Scott Boras. A contingent of at least Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone will fly to Southern California and attempt to out-woo their competitors and persuade Soto to return to The Bronx for a very long time and, they hope, convince him quickly. No one wants the sweepstakes to drag out over the next few months, particularly teams that do not know how much money they will have left for other free agents.
