As baseball's offseason enters its busiest period, there are several key storylines to keep an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend.

1. Winter Meetings: The eagerly anticipated Winter Meetings, the main attraction of MLB's offseason, are set to begin this weekend in Nashville. Executives, agents, players, and owners will converge on the city for a week of intense discussions and negotiations. With a relatively quiet offseason thus far, the Winter Meetings are expected to ignite a flurry of activity. The meeting is expected to be dominated by discussions surrounding two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, along with other notable free agents such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and trade candidates like Juan Soto and Dylan Cease. MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR) will provide round-the-clock coverage of the meetings.

2. Rangers' Payroll Restrictions: The Texas Rangers, known for their aggressive approach in recent years, may take a different approach this offseason due to financial considerations. General Manager Chris Young has indicated that the team's payroll restrictions may limit their ability to make significant moves. Despite landing superstars like Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jacob deGrom in the past, the Rangers may focus on complementary additions and stick with their current core following their first World Series championship. The comments raise questions about the team's pursuit of Ohtani, as well as other targets like Jordan Montgomery and Josh Hader. However, it is worth noting that the Rangers have made substantial investments in previous offseasons, leaving the possibility for smaller yet impactful moves open.

3. MLBTR's Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard: In exciting news for baseball fans, MLB Trade Rumors has launched its annual free agent prediction contest leaderboard. With only seven of MLBTR's Top 50 Free Agents signed at this point, Tom Diesman currently leads the pack with five correct picks, displaying an impressive prediction acumen. Meanwhile, MLBTR's Leo Morgenstern tops the leaderboard among staff members with three correct picks. Fans can follow their progress and join the excitement of predicting where the remaining top free agents will land.

As the Winter Meetings get underway and key free agents remain unsigned, the baseball world is eagerly awaiting the developments and moves that will reshape the landscape of the game. Stay tuned for the latest updates and rumors as the offseason heats up.