With MLB's winter meetings starting Sunday night, let's look at where all 30 teams stand. Below we examine each team using five categories: their biggest needs, the current free agents they could be interested in, players they might be interested in trading for, their notable acquisitions to date and their "aggressiveness scale," which is how aggressive we expect each team to be during these winter meetings on a scale of 1-10 from least to most aggressive. I communicated with 27 of the 30 general managers, so the biggest team needs in most cases came directly from them, while the free agents and trade targets came from a combination of baseball people on both sides, from agents to club executives of various levels and even directly with some players.
Based on those contacts here is this year's winter meetings checklist for all 30 clubs:
American League
Biggest team needs: An experienced catcher, a left-handed hitter, and a right fielder.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B/OF Mark Trumbo, CF Dexter Fowler, OF Michael Saunders, OF Angel Pagan, UT Ian Desmond, OF Carlos Gomez.
Trade options: OF Jay Bruce, OF Carlos Gonzalez, OF Adam Eaton, OF Jayson Werth.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Logan Verrett
Aggressiveness scale: 7
Biggest team needs: DH, bullpen depth, elite starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: DH Carlos Beltran, LHP Rich Hill, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Neftali Feliz.
Trade options: LHP Chris Sale, RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Jose Quintana, DH Victor Martinez, 1B Eric Hosmer, 1B Jose Abreu.
Notable acquisitions to date: None.
Aggressiveness scale: 8
Biggest team needs: Complete rebuild. Prospects. Non-arbitration-eligible players.
Free agents they could be interested in: TBD after they trade some of their veterans.
Trade options: Endless. All of baseball wants lefty starters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. There's also 1B Jose Abreu, RHP Dave Robertson, OF Melky Cabrera, 3B Todd Frazier and OF Adam Eaton also have great trade value.
Notable acquisitions to date: None.
Aggressiveness scale: 5
Biggest team needs: A big bat, complementary outfielder, relief help.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B Mike Napoli, OF Matt Holliday, DH Pedro Alvarez, 1B Mitch Moreland, OF Angel Pagan, 1B Brandon Moss, UT Steve Pearce, INF Luis Valbuena, OF Rajai Davis, OF Colby Rasmus, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Neftali Feliz, LHP Javier Lopez, RHP Joaquin Benoit, RHP Koji Uehara.
Trade options: More interested in free agents and holding on to prospects.
Notable acquisitions to date: None.
Aggressiveness scale: 4
Biggest team needs: Center field, catcher, pitching depth.
Free agents they could be interested in: CF Dexter Fowler, OF Coco Crisp, CF Austin Jackson, OF Angel Pagan, OF Carlos Gomez, C Matt Wieters, C Kurt Suzuki, C Alex Avila, C Chris Iannetta, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Jerry Blevins, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Brad Ziegler, LHP Boone Logan.
Trade options: They are listening on all of their veteran players with OF J.D. Martinez, 2B Ian Kinsler and DH Victor Martinez the most likely of all of them to be dealt. They’re looking for inexpensive big league players or high-level prospects in return.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Victor Alcantara.
Aggressiveness scale: 8
Biggest team needs: Hitter, elite starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B Edwin Encarnacion, DH Carlos Beltran, 1B/OF Mark Trumbo, LHP Rich Hill.
Trade options: LHP Chris Sale, LHP Jose Quintana, RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Gio Gonzalez, OF Jay Bruce.
Notable acquisitions to date: OF Josh Reddick, C Brian McCann, RHP Charlie Morton.
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team needs: Reducing payroll while trying to keep the team together for one last run.
Free agents they could be interested in: Mostly whatever bargain free agents are available later in the winter.
Trade options: Endless. First baseman Eric Hosmer, 3B Michael Moustakas, SS Alcides Escobar, CF Lorenzo Cain, LHP Danny Duffy and RHP Wade Davis are all free agents after 2017 season. They will listen to offers while trying to keep them together -- for the most part -- for one last run.
Notable acquisitions to date: C Drew Butera.
Aggressiveness scale: 2
Biggest team needs: Second base, left-handed hitters, a fourth outfielder and another arm.
Free agents they could be interested in: 2B Chase Utley, UT Dustin Ackley, UT Stephen Drew, OF Coco Crisp, OF Angel Pagan, 1B/OF Brandon Moss, OF Alejandro De Aza.
Trade options: 2B Brian Dozier, 2B Brandon Phillips, SS Zack Cozart, UT Brandon Drury, 2B Logan Forsythe.
Notable acquisitions to date: OF Cameron Maybin, RHP Jesse Chavez, RHP Andrew Bailey.
Aggressiveness scale: 5
Biggest team needs: Starting pitching, starting pitching and starting pitching.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Ivan Nova, RHP Jason Hammel, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Colby Lewis, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Lucas Harrell.
Trade options: Every available starting pitcher.
Notable acquisitions to date: C Jason Castro.
Aggressiveness scale: 6
Biggest team needs: DH, bullpen help, a starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B Edwin Encarnacion, DH Carlos Beltran, LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Travis Wood and LHP Rich Hill.
Trade options: Endless, because they're armed with one of games best farm systems.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHPs Albert Abreu, Jorge Guzman and Zack Littell.
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team needs: Pitching, infield, outfield.
Free agents they could be interested in: Whoever is undervalued, underpriced and/or cheap.
Trade options: Right-handed starter Sonny Gray is their best trade bait to use in a deal for prospects, but his value is rock bottom.
Notable acquisitions to date: DH Matt Joyce.
Aggressiveness scale: 4
Biggest team needs: Starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Ivan Nova, RHP Jason Hammel, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Bronson Arroyo, LHP Brett Anderson, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Jered Weaver.
Trade options: Looking for solid mid-rotation starter in all trade talks.
Notable acquisitions to date: INF Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger, LHP Zac Curtis, RHP Rob Whalen, RHP Max Povse, UT Danny Valencia, 1B/3B Richie Shaffer, C Carlos Ruiz, LHP James Pazos, UT Taylor Motter.
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team need: Catcher, bullpen, and a fourth outfielder.
Free agents they could be interested in: C Matt Wieters, C Wilson Ramos, C Kurt Suzuki, C Chris Iannetta, C Alex Avila, OF Colby Rasmus, OF Coco Crisp, OF Angel Pagan, OF Rajai Davis, CF Austin Jackson, UT Chris Coghlan, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Koji Uehara, RHP Drew Storen, RHP Joaquin Benoit.
Trade options: C Austin Barnes, C Austin Hedges, C Austin Romine, C Yan Gomes, C Derek Norris, C Blake Swihart.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Dylan Thompson, 1B Dalton Kelly, RHP Andrew Kittredge.
Aggressiveness scale: 5
Biggest team needs: Center field, first base, DH, starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: CF Dexter Fowler, UT Ian Desmond, OF Carlos Gomez, 1B Edwin Encarnacion, DH Carlos Beltran, 1B Mike Napoli, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Ivan Nova, 1B Mitch Moreland.
Trade options: LHPs Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, 1B Jose Abreu, 1B Miguel Cabrera, CF Lorenzo Cain.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Andrew Cashner, 3B Will Middlebrooks, LHP David Rollins, RHP Tyler Wagner.
Aggressiveness scale: 9
Biggest team needs: First base, outfield corners.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B Edwin Encarnacion, OF Jose Bautista, CF Dexter Fowler, OF Angel Pagan, UT Ian Desmond, 1B Chris Carter.
Trade options: OF Jay Bruce, OF Curtis Granderson, OF Adam Eaton, OF Marcel Ozuna, OF Carlos Gonzalez, RF Yasiel Puig.
Notable acquisitions to date: 1B Kendrys Morales, 2B/OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Aggressiveness scale: 8
National League
Biggest team need: Bullpen depth.
Free agents they could be interested in: Boone Logan, Brad Ziegler, Junichi Tazawa, Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Travis Wood, Neftali Feliz, Javier Lopez, Joaquin Benoit, Koji Uehara.
Trade options: Infield and outfield depth to trade from.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Taijuan Walker, SS Ketel Marte, Jeremy Hazelbaker.
Aggressiveness scale: 8
Biggest team needs: Top of rotation ace, catcher, bullpen help.
Free agents they could be interested in: C Matt Wieters, C Wilson Ramos, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Neftali Feliz, LHP Javier Lopez, RHP Joaquin Benoit, RHP Koji Uehara
Trade options: LHP Chris Sale, RHP Chris Archer, RHP Sonny Gray, C Blake Swihart.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHPs Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey, LHP Jaime Garcia, UT Sean Rodriguez, OF Alex Jackson, C Tuffy Gosewich.
Aggressiveness scale: 9
Biggest team needs: Closer.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Mark Melancon, LHP Aroldis Chapman
Trade options: RHPs A.J. Ramos, Wade Davis or Alex Colome.
Notable acquisitions to date: OF Jon Jay
Aggressiveness scale: 4
Biggest team needs: Short-term pitching to stock their needs at the big league level, veteran catcher, bench help.
Free agents they could be interested in: C Kurt Suzuki, C Chris Iannetta, C A.J. Ellis, C Ryan Hanigan, C Nick Hundley, C Alex Avila, C Jeff Mathis, C Tony Cruz, C Brayan Pena, C/UT Chris Gimenez, C Rene Rivera, RHP Bronson Arroyo, RHP Colby Lewis, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Derek Holland.
Trade options: They'd like to move 2B Brandon Phillips and SS Zack Cozart -- both free agents after 2017 -- for more prospects or non-arbitration eligible players.
Notable acquisitions to date: OF Gabby Guerrero, C Juan Graterol.
Aggressiveness scale: 6
Biggest team needs: First base and bullpen.
Free agents they could be interested in: 1B Mike Napoli, 1B Chris Carter, OF Matt Holliday, 1B Mitch Moreland, 1B Ryan Howard, 1B Adam Lind, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Junichi Tazawa, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Neftali Feliz, LHP Javier Lopez, RHP Joaquin Benoit, RHP Koji Uehara
Trade options: They're more likely to solve their needs via free agency.
Notable acquisitions to date: INF Josh Rutledge.
Aggressiveness scale: 7
Biggest team needs: Closer, No. 2 starter, third base, second base, right-handed hitter, starting pitcher.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Mark Melancon, LHP Rich Hill, INF Justin Turner, 2B Chase Utley, INF Luis Valbuena.
Trade options: LHP Chris Sale, LHP Jose Quintana, RHP Chris Archer, RHP Jake Odorizzi, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP A.J. Ramos, 2B Ian Kinsler, 2B Brian Dozier, 3B Todd Frazier.
Notable acquisitions to date: 1B Darin Ruf, 2B/OF Darnell Sweeney
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team needs: Starting pitcher, bullpen depth, righty-hitting bench bat.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Ivan Nova, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Jason Hammel, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Derek Holland, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, LHP Michael Dunn, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Koji Uehara, RHP Drew Storen, RHP Joaquin Benoit, OF Matt Holliday, OF Rajai Davis, OF/2B Chris Coghlan, 1B Chris Carter.
Trade options: RHP Jake Odorizzi, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Chris Archer, LHP Jose Quintana, RHP Junior Guerra.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Edinson Volquez.
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team needs: Adding to their young core of controllable talent; left-handed hitters, undervalued free agents.
Free agents they could be interested in: Not applicable.
Trade options: Dangling OF Ryan Braun and RHP Junior Guerra to acquire answers to the biggest team needs.
Notable acquisitions to date: OF Eric Thames, RHPs Steve Geltz and Blake Parker.
Aggressiveness scale: 6
Biggest team needs: Bullpen depth.
Free agents they could be interested in: LHP Javier Lopez, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Koji Uehara, RHP Drew Storen, RHP Joaquin Benoit, RHP Trevor Cahill, RHP Junichi Tazawa, RHP Daniel Hudson, LHP Michael Dunn.
Trade options: Dangling both corner outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson, because they're going to trade one of them.
Notable acquisitions to date: Re-signing OF Yoenis Cespedes.
Aggressiveness scale: 6
Biggest team needs: Time, patience and discipline.
Free agents they could be interested in: Short-term options they could sign to temporarily man big league jobs, and then trade for prospects at the deadline in July.
Trade options: Limited.
Notable acquisitions to date: UT Howie Kendrick, RHP Pat Neshek.
Aggressiveness scale: 2
Biggest team needs: Starting pitching, bullpen help.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Ivan Nova, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Jered Weaver, LHP C.J. Wilson.
Trade options: Center fielder Andrew McCutchen is being dangled for pitching prospects, and they should match up well with the Nationals, Dodgers, Astros, Rangers or Giants.
Notable acquisitions to date: None.
Aggressiveness scale: 9
Biggest team needs: Center field, third base, pitching depth.
Free agents they could be interested in: CF Dexter Fowler, INF Justin Turner.
Trade targets: CFs Lorenzo Cain, Kevin Kiermaier and Kevin Pillar.
Notable acquisitions to date: LHP Brett Cecil.
Aggressiveness scale: 8
Biggest team needs: Starting pitcher, shortstop, left field.
Free agents they could be interested in: RHP Ivan Nova, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Jason Hammel, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Derek Holland, LHP Brett Anderson.
Trade options: Listening in on prospects-for-prospects trades.
Notable acquisitions to date: New medical record system.
Aggressiveness scale: 5
Biggest team needs: Closer, left field, set-up relievers.
Free agents they could be interested in: LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Mark Melancon, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Sergio Romo, LHP Javier Lopez, LHP Boone Logan, LHP Michael Dunn, LHP Jerry Blevins, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Junichi Tazawa, CF Dexter Fowler, 1B/OF Jose Bautista, OF Colby Rasmus, OF Angel Pagan, UT Ian Desmond, INF Justin Turner, OF Carlos Gomez, OF Rajai Davis, OF Michael Saunders, OF Matt Holliday.
Trade options: RHP Wade Davis, RHP Alex Colome, RHP A.J. Ramos, OF Jay Bruce, OF Curtis Granderson, CF Lorenzo Cain, 3B Todd Frazier.
Notable acquisitions to date: None.
Aggressiveness scale: 10
Biggest team needs: Upgrades on offense, closer, strengthen the bench.
Free agents they could be interested in: LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Mark Melancon, CF Dexter Fowler.
Trade options: CF Andrew McCutchen, LHP Chris Sale, CF Lorenzo Cain, RHP Wade Davis, RHP Alex Colome, RHP A.J. Ramos.
Notable acquisitions to date: RHP Jimmy Cordero, OF Chris Heisey.
Aggressiveness scale: 10