Four figures who will influence MLB's winter meetings

Baseball's winter meetings, which begin Monday in San Diego, are expected to live up to their hype as the game's ultimate trade-and-free agent bazaar.

And that's not to say things won't get bizarre, too.

With enough potential action to actually fill up a 24-hour news cycle, the late-night deal making and clandestine visits to team suites figure to add to the event's lore beyond the huge piles of cash doled out.

Yet, a lot can't happen until a few individuals say so. Here's four figures most likely to influence the proceedings as the industry converges on San Diego:

Executive: Andrew Friedman, Dodgers. The winter meetings look a bit different from the Dodgers' suite than the Rays', eh? Friedman is bringing the holy trinity of assets to San Diego: Major league-ready trade chips, prospects and cash. The Dodgers could lavish $150 million on Jon Lester. Or trade Matt Kemp. Or dangle top prospects like Joc Pederson for immediate help. At the least, they figure to go home with a new shortstop.

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Or, they could do nothing. But the mere perception that they might move mountains will cast a shadow over many potential transactions. And that only gives the savvy Friedman even more of an upper hand in his first winter piloting this $250 million monster.

Player: Jon Lester. When you've got four of the game's richest and/or most successful franchises bidding for you, that's a lot of pull. And Lester's decision will have a huge impact on the next moves of the Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and Giants.

If he spurns the Red Sox, it may force Boston to dive back into the trade market for a pitcher (Cole Hamels?).

If he spurns the Giants, they may opt for cheaper rotation upgrades and pour their Pablo Sandoval savings back into third base, trumping what could be a relatively large field pursuing Chase Headley.

If he spurns the Dodgers, they are more vulnerable to Zack Greinke opting out of his deal next season, perhaps inspiring them to chase another splashy starter now (Hamels? Max Scherzer?).

And if he spurns the Cubs, well, that will further pressure new manager Joe Maddon to soothe the masses with new-age witticisms, the better to distract from the club's thin rotation.

Agent: Scott Boras. Oh, you expected him to be overshadowed by a hip-hop mogul two consecutive winters? Not happening. Boras has just one marquee client on the market this year – the dominant Scherzer – but that's enough to change the complexion or plans of several teams. Scherzer, after all, shouldn't even be here – how many aces turn down $144 million heading into their walk year at age 30? But he and Boras opted to roll the dice and it turned out splendidly. Scherzer is still dominant, healthy and his contract should zoom past the $150 million mark.

That won't happen this week. Scherzer is the winter's ultimate luxury item, likely to sign closer to New Year's, with negotiations occurring at the highest levels of management. But the mere thought of his addition could frame many teams' plans.

Do the Tigers shop David Price – a free agent after this year – and get their old ace back?

Have the Washington Nationals figured Scherzer is a better long-term bet than Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister? It's unlikely Washington doles out more than one $100 million deal to a starting pitcher. Perhaps they opt for certainty now and, at some point, trade the others or let them walk, perhaps after winning a World Series.

Are the Yankees so desperate to shore up a pitching staff with lots of promise, but lots of question marks? Are they already earmarking the dollars saved when Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira's deals expire, as they will in the latter half of a Scherzer deal?

Will the Dodgers…well, see above.

Anyhow, Boras per usual has plenty to work with. And it won't be nearly so exciting next winter, when Matt Wieters and Chris Davis top his list of clients hitting the market. Though he'll surely find a way to make that interesting.

Owner: Jeffrey Loria, Marlins. Loria did not guarantee Giancarlo Stanton a third of a billion dollars to merely be the hood ornament on a Fiat. And the Marlins rarely do anything quietly.

Seems like a lifetime ago, but it was just three winter meetings past when Loria and Co. dominated the dais in Dallas, committing nearly $200 million to Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell (remember him?). Now, the Marlins have a relatively clean financial slate, prospects to dangle, holes to fill.

Might want to keep that podium clear for the gentleman from South Florida.