5 teams figure to make the Stove Hot

To get this offseason rolling, we need a big, old-fashioned, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping trade. The deal would be one of those massive multiteam transactions involving a dozen players and giving fans something to dissect and second guess for the remainder of the offseason.
Sometimes, these trades get every general manager in every city questioned. Some get ripped for making the deal. Some get ripped for not making the deal. It's exactly what we need as we begin the most critical few weeks of the offseason.
Here's the thing: We've got the dynamics for such a trade to happen. First, we've got an assortment of teams -- the Cardinals, Giants and Red Sox, for example -- looking to do something significant.
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We've also got executives like Dave Dombrowski, John Mozeliak, Jerry Dipoto and Alex Anthopoulos who have a history of fearless dealing. Plus, we've got big names like Giancarlo Stanton, Chris Archer, Zach Britton and Gerrit Cole who could be available.
OK, let's give it a shot. As the most interesting time of the offseason gets rolling, here are five teams I think could do something big:
1. Cardinals
Here's why this team is first on my list: St. Louis has finished behind the Cubs in the National League Central in back-to-back seasons, and the front office is focused on giving the team both an upgrade and a different look. President of baseball operations Mozeliak has been unafraid to make dramatic changes in the past, and while he could go the caution route and still get the Cardinals back into the postseason, he has the prospects and money to do something much larger, something that would get the attention of Cards fans and players alike.
2. Red Sox
This one is based on history. President of baseball operations Dombrowski has made trades for Miguel Cabrera, Craig Kimbrel, Chris Sale, David Price, Max Scherzer and Gary Sheffield. Dombrowski is completely fearless about trading prospects if it means putting his team in better position to win immediately. Now his team needs a middle-of-the-order hitter, and the Marlins happen to have one available in Stanton. This is a made-to-order match if Stanton can be convinced to waive his no-trade protection and approve a deal to Boston. A possible downside: Bidding for Stanton could involve several other clubs and get beyond the point of comfort, in terms of prospects traded, for some executives.

3. Braves
Everything is in place for a big deal. First, the Braves have a strong farm system and the need to change the narrative and push this new generation into contention. And Atlanta has a new general manager in Anthopoulos, who has a history of making big trades. During his five years in charge of the Blue Jays, he acquired Josh Donaldson, R.A. Dickey, David Price and Troy Tulowitzki. Anthopoulos also was the guy who traded Roy Halladay to the Phillies. These next few weeks are an opportunity to begin to put his stamp on his new club.
4. Giants
The Giants just had their worst season in 32 years, but they remain in win-now mode. Madison Bumgarner is under contract for two more seasons, Buster Posey for four. What they need is offense -- only the Padres scored fewer runs in 2017 -- and they may not have the farm-system depth to get into a bidding war for Stanton. In a perfect world, San Francisco would add free agents J.D. Martinez or Lorenzo Cain to play in the outfield and Todd Frazier or Mike Moustakas to play third base. Signing just one elite free agent would push the payroll past $200 million, which would test even a franchise with deep pockets. But unless the Giants try to trade, say, shortstop Brandon Crawford (which would create a different set of issues), there don't appear to be many other options.

5. Mariners
Wait, you didn't think this list would be complete without Dipoto's name, did you? In his first two offseasons with the Mariners, he made 37 trades involving 95 players. Dipoto is off to a nice start in his third offseason, acquiring first baseman Ryon Healy from the A's and announcing that he would go hard for Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher/hitter who is this offseason's most intriguing free agent. If Seattle somehow snatches Ohtani from the Yankees, Dodgers, etc., Dipoto can take the rest of the offseason off. But he wouldn't.