With MLB’s Winter Meetings set to begin on Monday in sunny San Diego, baseball’s hot stove was at a light simmer on Saturday. Let’s see what’s cooking.

Favorites For Cole Emerging

Early 0n Saturday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network noted the New York Yankees’ “total focus” on landing free-agent superstar hurler Gerrit Cole, with Philadelphia, Texas, and two west coast teams named as interested parties.

Jeff Passan of ESPN later confirmed that the Yanks, the Dodgers, and the Angels remain favorites in the process, but, surely, Cole will have some heavy decisions to make in the coming days.

Cole, 29, is coming off a terrific season that saw him post a career-best 2.50 ERA (2.64 FIP) with 326 strikeouts, 48 walks, and a sparkling 0.89 WHIP.

Since coming to Houston via Pittsburgh ahead of the 2018 season, the Orange, CA native owns a 2.68 ERA with 602 strikeouts over 412.2 innings pitched.

Rosenthal Signs With KC

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, the team announced on Saturday.

Rosenthal, 29, has seen his effectiveness wear down since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017, leading to him missing the entire 2018 season.

From 2012 through the time of his injury (August 2017), the Kansas native pitched to a 2.99 ERA with 435 strikeouts, 143 walks, and 1.31 WHIP over 325 innings pitched for the Cards.

Rosenthal pitched to a 13.50 ERA over 22 relief appearances between Washington and Detroit last season.

Lyles Takes His Talents To Texas

Right-hander Jordan Lyles parlayed his 2.45 ERA over 11 starts with Milwaukee to end 2019 into a two-year, $16 million deal with the Texas Rangers this weekend, as per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Passan (ESPN), who confirmed the financials.

Lyles, 29, has bounced around the league since making his MLB debut with the Astros in 2011 at the age of 20, pitching for

He carried a 3.09 ERA into June last season for the Pirates before hitting a speed bump (24 earned runs over five starts from June 2 to July 13), then was traded to the Brewers ahead of the deadline.

Once in Milwaukee, Lyles shone, earning himself a nice little payday from the Rangers. Jon Heyman (MLB Network) reported that the Brewers, White Sox, Blue Jays, and Twins also showed an interest.