We are currently in one of the deadest periods of the dead MLB offseason, but fear not! The Winter Meetings are on the horizon, and with them will come some singings and trades as well as numerous “team is interested in player” reports that seem to regurgitate the same information you’ve read for months. On to the links.Phillies news:Ken Rosenthal reports that the Reds’ interest in Kyle Schwarber is for real, but it still appears unlikely that they will outbid the Phillies monetarily. ($)Jay Jaffe of Fangraphs continues his look at all of the names on the Hall of Fame ballot, this time focusing on newcomer Cole Hamels. Andrew Painter figures to be a contributor to the 2026 Phillies, but what other pitching prospects could make an impact? ($)Todd Zolecki takes a look at where the Phillies stand heading into the Winter Meetings. MLB news:Anthony Kay is returning to the Majors after spending the last two seasons in Japan, as the lefty agreed to a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox. More from Rosenthal’s piece, including the Brewers beginning to listen on trade proposals for Freddy Peralta. ($)Doubles and triples are way down across MLB. So. what happened that has led to the demise of the “gapper’? ($)The widow of Tyler Skaggs testified again in the ongoing court case surrounding the death of the former pitcher from a drug overdose as Skaggs’ former team, the Los Angeles Angels, tries to shift the fault for Skaggs’ death onto the pitcher. ($)