Welcome to Rates Barrels Wednesday, December 11, day three of the winter meetings here at the Hilton Anatol in Dallas.

Derek Van Rhyper, Inoceris, and the Athletic Senior Baseball writer Ken Rosenthal is here to start today's show. It's been a great winter meeting, Ken. Tons of activity. It actually has been good. Yeah. And it could always be better. But no, this was much better than some of the recent years where it was really slow. And all you asked for is a little bit of action because it's interesting and GM pointed

out to me today being here as much as everyone hates it baseball people and the writers because

this work can all be done not here right being here there is a certain momentum that happens.

And for instance, the crochet trade, if the Yankees don't sign freed two days ago in

this building, does that happen?

Probably, but I don't know.

The pressure mounted on the Red Sox because of the winter meetings and all this talk,

and maybe that had something to do with it. You know, and Juan Soto signing on Sunday night did open up, you know, the barn doors in a way. No doubt. Because now, you know, once you had your suitors for him, you know, the Red Sox, all of the suitors that were in there, you know, what were the final suitors for Soto?

It was, you know, the Red Sox had one of the best offers. Blue Jays made a big trade. Mets and the Blue Jays. So, you know, every single one of them has been active since Soto signed with the Mets. That's true. And when you look back on it, Derek, you make a good point. It has been a good winner meeting. because you have to include the Soto signing,

and then Soto, freed, a good point. It has been a good winner meeting. It's because you have to include the Soto signing. And then Soto, freed, the Crochet deal, some other things that

happened. The Jimenez trade yesterday was really interesting. Yeah. I'm satisfied.

Yeah, as much as you can ask for. So a pretty big return. Garrett Crochet goes to the Red Sox.

Kyle Teal, Braden Montgomery, Chase Medroth, and Wilkman Gonzalez. I think Teal and Montgomery are the two headliners. People are more familiar with from prospect lists. Did you get the sense that there were still several teams pushing to get a deal done for Garrett Crochet before the Red Sox finally pushed it over the finish line? Well, what's interesting is that I believe it was two days ago. I lose track at the time. We reported that the Mets and Yankees were the most aggressive. And at that time, I heard the Red Sox were kind of not out of it, but not really in it, not pushing. And it changed from what I understand last night. And actually this morning, it changed in a big way.

Last night, the White Sox went to sleep thinking,

the Red Sox are not doing anything here.

And then there was an exchange this morning, obviously in exchange.

And it got to the point where it got to.

And I thought the White Sox did well.

People can debate these things.

We don't know with prospects anyway. But we'll see. I certainly thought the White Sox did well. People can debate these things. We don't know with prospects anyway. But we'll see. I certainly thought the White Sox did better than they did with the Eric Fetty trade in the deadline situation. Well, crochet is a better picture. But, you know, did you get a sense that, you know, there was one of these names that put them over the top? Was it built around teal and they added Montgomery?

I don't know. That's a good question. I will say this. My droth, that's a guy that,

...