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With the sun preparing to set on January and Spring Training reporting dates inching closer by the day, it feels like we’ve exhausted the conversations about the top free agents still looking for jobs.

Where will Cody Bellinger land? What about Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Jorge Soler or Matt Chapman? These guys have to sign soon, don’t they?

Yes, these players -- and many others -- are still looking to settle their situations for 2024 and beyond, but what about the teams that could/should be signing them?

(Insert your “Why don’t the Dodgers just sign all of them?” joke here.)

Los Angeles has certainly been the busiest club this winter, signing Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández, James Paxton, Joe Kelly and Jason Heyward while also trading for Tyler Glasnow and giving him a contract extension.

The Dodgers have dominated the Hot Stove headlines, but they’re far from the only team to make significant moves this offseason. The Reds’ additions include Jeimer Candelario, Nick Martinez, Frankie Montas and Emilio Pagán; while the Royals added Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton and Will Smith. The Cardinals remade their rotation with the signings of Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn. The D-backs followed up their World Series appearance by re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and adding both Eduardo Rodriguez and Joc Pederson. The Mets haven’t been big-game hunting, but they brought in Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Harrison Bader among others.

A number of other clubs have signed at least two free agents including the Giants (Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks), Astros (Josh Hader, Victor Caratini), Tigers (Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda) and Blue Jays (Yariel Rodriguez, Kevin Kiermaier). And let’s not forget the Yankees, who traded for Juan Soto and signed Marcus Stroman.

So which teams have big moves left in them? We polled a number of big league executives to see who they believe would benefit most from another key addition or two, and while seven different teams were mentioned by the 10 front-office folks we talked to, the Orioles, Cubs, Yankees and Giants were brought up most often. The Angels, Padres and Blue Jays also received votes as clubs that still have work to do this winter.

“The Orioles still need a starting pitcher,” one American League executive said. “They had a great year [in 2023] and have a terrific young core, but adding a veteran starter would go a long way if they hope to repeat [as AL East champions].”

Baltimore’s big move to this point was the one-year, $13 million deal given to closer Craig Kimbrel, replacing All-Star Félix Bautista, who underwent Tommy John surgery in October. The Orioles’ rotation currently features Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, and while Baltimore isn’t expected to shell out the cash to sign either Snell or Montgomery, a trade -- for White Sox righty Dylan Cease, perhaps? -- could still be in the cards.

“That would make sense for them,” a National League executive said. “But I don’t know that they have the same pressure on them to make a move as the bigger markets do. They could use it, but I don’t know if their fans would be as upset if they didn’t.”

“I think [Orioles GM Mike] Elias might just roll out every single prospect and win that way,” another NL exec said, pointing to Baltimore’s highly ranked farm system.

The Cubs signed Sh?ta Imanaga to replace Stroman in the rotation, but Chicago has yet to address the potential hole in the lineup that would be created should Bellinger sign elsewhere. Of course, the Cubs could simply bring Bellinger back, which most execs believe will be the ultimate outcome. Chapman is also in play for the Cubs, who would turn a relatively quiet offseason into a productive one if they were to sign both hitters.

An NL executive predicted that the Giants -- who recently signed Hicks with the idea of converting him into a starter -- will sign Snell to pair with Logan Webb atop the rotation.

“Snell to San Francisco and Bellinger to the Cubs are very obvious fits,” an NL executive said. “I could see Toronto getting in there on Bellinger, as well.”

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Another exec who predicted a Snell-Giants match also pegged the Yankees as the team to sign Bellinger, who could see time at first base, center field and DH in 2024, then potentially take over at first base in 2025, if New York declines Anthony Rizzo’s club option at the end of this season.

“I don’t know if those are the exact moves,” the exec said. “But I think both of those clubs have money to spend and need to do something to make a splash.”

Another NL exec also believes the Yankees will make another notable move, though he didn’t specify whether that would be Bellinger, Snell or somebody else.

“[GM Brian Cashman] has one more move up his sleeve,” the executive said.

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Mark Feinsand, an executive reporter, originally joined MLB.com as a reporter in 2001.

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Los Angeles Kings

Viktor Arvidsson is on track to make his season debut for the Kings during their upcoming four-game road trip, which starts Tuesday at the Buffalo Sabres.

Arvidsson, a forward, has been out because of a back injury that required surgery. He returned to practice this week, including participating in an optional skate Saturday, but will not be available against the Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; BSW, NHLN, CITY, SN, TVAS, CBC).

"He's getting closer," Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller said. "You saw him in a regular jersey yesterday, he actually took some contact in the drills."

Arvidsson had 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 77 games for the Kings last season.

Center Blake Lizotte has resumed skating on his own after sustaining a lower-body injury against the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 15, but Hiller said there is no update for when he will return to practice.

Lizotte has nine points (five goals, four assists) in 34 games. -- Dan Greenspan

Vegas Golden Knights

Shea Theodore practiced in a non-contact jersey Saturday for the first time since being injured in November.

The defenseman has missed 32 games with an upper-body injury sustained in a 2-1 overtime win at the Dallas Stars on Nov. 22.

"It's great to see," defenseman Brayden McNabb said of Theodore practicing. "It's been quite some time. I'm sure he was pretty excited about just getting out there with the group. It's a long process for him. This is another stage of it. It's a good sign whenever you see him out in practice."

Theodore is not expected to play in the Golden Knights' next game against the Minnesota Wild on Monday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSWIX, BSN, SN, TVAS) and there is no timeline for his return.

He has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 20 games this season. -- Paul Delos Santos

Carolina Hurricanes

Antti Raanta will be out at least two weeks for the Hurricanes because of a lower-body injury.

The goalie made nine saves in the second period in relief of Pyotr Kochetkov in a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, but Kochetkov had to return for the third.

Raanta is 12-7-2 with a 2.99 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage in 24 games (20 starts) this season. Spencer Martin, who was claimed off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 19, was the backup for Kochetkov in a 1-0 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Martin made 26 saves in a 3-2 win at the Boston Bruins on Jan. 24 in his only appearance for Carolina.

"It's good to have guys who know how to play that position because of all the injuries that have gone on here," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said.

Forward Andrei Svechnikov returned Saturday after missing six games with an upper-body injury.

Svechnikov missed the first eight games of the season following surgery in July for a torn ACL in his right knee sustained in a 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights on March 11. He missed six more games in December with an upper-body injury.

In 30 games this season, Svechnikov has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists).

"If we want to be the team we want to be, you've got to have your best players in there," Brind'Amour said. "You can get by, but you're certainly not going to have any success unless you've got the top guys going. He was very impactful, and that's what he's capable of doing. We need him in there." -- Kurt Dusterberg

Chicago Blackhawks

Andreas Athanasiou skated Saturday for the first time since sustaining a groin injury in early November, but there is no date for the forward's return.

Athanasiou sustained the injury on Nov. 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said on Dec. 6 that he expected Athanasiou to start skating that week, but he had a setback and never returned to the ice.

"I don't know where this will go, timetable-wise, but it was a good first step on the ice and he had a good gym day yesterday or the last two days, which led to this," Richardson said.

"If he can progress, hopefully he can practice non-contact probably soon. Not that it's an upper-body injury or head injury, but just to make sure something isn't overextended in a battle drill. That's just a good sign. He seems in a good mood, so just getting out there and feeling it, that's a good sign."

Athanasiou has four assists in 11 games this season. -- Tracey Myers

Calgary Flames

Dan Vladar was placed on injured reserve Friday with a lower-body injury.

The goalie dressed as the backup to Jacob Markstrom in a 5-3 win against the Devils on Thursday. He has not played in the past five games since making 29 saves in a 3-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 20.

Vladar is 7-7-2 with a 3.27 GAA and .895 save percentage in 16 games this season.

Dustin Wolf was recalled from Calgary of the American Hockey League on Friday; he is 1-2-1 with a 3.46 GAA and .893 save percentage in five games (four starts) with the Flames this season.

Wolf backed up Markstrom when the Flames won 5-2 at the New York Islanders on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Clippers are in the midst of one of the best seasons in their franchise's history. After a slow start following the James Harden trade, they have since gone 32-9 over their past 41 games. While the Harden trade has been a significant catalyst behind that success as well as Kawhi Leonard playing at an MVP level, none of this would be possible without Paul George, who was recently selected for his ninth All-Star Game.

George is giving the Clippers an efficient 22.5 points per night while providing his standard excellent defense, and if he has his way, the Clippers will bring the band back together next season as well. Harden will not be eligible for a new contract until after the season, but Leonard has already inked a three-year max extension, and George is eligible for one as well. He was asked after Saturday's win over the Detroit Pistons if there were any updates on that front, and while he offered no specifics, he indicated that signing quickly is "the goal."

It isn't clear at this time where exactly the holdup is coming from. Notably, the Clippers only extended Leonard for three years. This offseason, George will be eligible to sign for up to five in Los Angeles or four with another team, so perhaps the Clippers are trying to align the contracts of their two star forwards, but George is hoping for more security.

Given George's injury history, a bit of fear on the Clippers' side makes sense, but there is inherent danger in going into the postseason without a deal agreed to. If the Clippers win it all, they almost have to give George his full max. If things end badly? Then the Clippers risk losing him in free agency for nothing.

The Philadelphia 76ers are the most notable team with max cap space that will likely make a run at George if he reaches free agency, but Yahoo's Jake Fischer has also reported that there have been whispers about George's interest in possibly returning to the Indiana Pacers to play with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The Pacers will not have cap space this offseason, but they could theoretically land George in a sign-and-trade with the Clippers.

The Clippers look like a possible championship favorite right now, and George is an essential part of that recent success. The longer he goes without signing an extension, the riskier things get for the Clippers. It is in everyone's best interests to get a deal done soon, but so far, they have been unable to do so.

Taylor Swift's mad dash to Las Vegas in time for the Super Bowl is almost complete, as the pop star's private jet landed at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday afternoon following a flight from Japan.

Swift flew straight to L.A. on the heels of four concerts in Tokyo as part of her Eras Tour. She is expected to be in attendance at Super Bowl LVIII when her boyfriend, star Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, takes on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.

Swift trackers speculate that she could be driving from Los Angeles to Vegas for the Super Bowl.

Ever since the Chiefs secured their Super Bowl berth, the big question has been whether Swift will be able to make it from Japan to Vegas in time for the game. Fortunately, time was on the singer's side.

With the 17-hour time difference between Japan's capital and Vegas, it was 1 a.m. Vegas time when she took the stage in Tokyo. After her final song, Swift rushed to a private jet at Haneda Airport. With the time difference, Swift was able to land back in the U.S. with hours to spare before Sunday's kickoff.

The next leg of Swift's tour is in Australia, beginning Feb. 16.

The flight from Vegas to Melbourne, where Swift will be performing, is approximately 18 hours. Unlike the trip from Japan, the time difference won't be in her favor, with Melbourne 19 hours ahead of Las Vegas. Even so, Swift will have plenty of time to enjoy the Super Bowl and make it to Australia in time for her show.

Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS and Nickelodeon and stream on Paramount+ on Feb. 11 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

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He’s played with Clayton Kershaw, who would insist he was healthy when he really wasn’t because he was determined to make his next start.

He also has played with Max Scherzer, who removed himself from the postseason rotation because he didn’t want to risk an injury that would compromise his value on the free-agent market.

So if Walker Buehler winds up in a position in which he has to prioritize the Dodgers’ competitive needs or his long-term health and financial future, whose example will he follow?

Buehler scoffed at the question.

“I think I try to take the ball any time,” Buehler said. “I don’t think there’s much question about that.”

In other words, Walker Buehler was insisting he was still Walker Buehler.

Read more: Hernández: Shohei Ohtani mindful that his situation on the Dodgers is unique

The former Next Big Thing is now 29 and at a career crossroads. The former All-Star will return to the mound this season after sitting out all of last year recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He’ll also be a free agent at the end of the season.

The stakes are immense not only for Buehler, but also for the Dodgers, who are counting on him and other pitchers with disconcerting medical histories such as Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton. Buehler is expected to begin the season on the injured list, but the Dodgers envision him starting games for them in the playoffs.

A pitcher coming off of his second elbow reconstruction faces longer odds of returning to his previous level of performance than a pitcher coming off of his first, so Buehler has taken measures to improve his chances of remaining healthy.

Bueher reshaped his once-slender frame and now weighs around 205 pounds. He said he never before pitched above 185.

“My elbow keeps, man, so I had to put a little weight around it and try to protect it a little bit,” he said with a chuckle.

Buehler joked how standing next to 5-foot-10 Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto made him “look really fat.”

Similar to Yamamoto, Buehler lacks the height of a prototypical starting pitcher, as he is listed at 6-2. Buehler relies on an explosive delivery to generate power behind his mid- to high-90s fastball, and his athleticism didn’t appear to be compromised when he threw his first bullpen session of the spring Friday.

“You get to the big leagues and have any sort of success, I think it’s hard to change anything,” Buehler said. “You want to do what got you there or whatever. You get hurt twice the way I have, sometimes you gotta kind of figure something else out. I think the athleticism in my delivery, or whatever you want to call it, has gotten me to where I am. So put on weight and try to keep that, I think, makes a lot of sense.”

He said he didn’t expect to change how he pitched either.

“I hope not,” he said. “I like how I used to pitch.”

Buehler said his confidence hasn’t been diminished by the questions over his health. From the time he broke into the majors, Buehler had a swagger that set him apart from others. The results soon matched his demeanor, with Buehler establishing a reputation as a big-game pitcher.

“I think he has that and more,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts agreed with the assessment that Buehler is now overlooked in the wake of the team’s nine-figure deals with Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

“He was our guy and he has pitched in big games, but that’s the way things work,” Roberts said. “You just continue to move on. Yeah, there were some other names we talked about this winter and we acquired. So certainly there’s a personal expectation and you want to be the guy. Walker wants to be the guy, for sure.”

Pitching on the big stage last year was what Buehler had in mind when he started pitching in minor league games in September. He didn’t make it back, but he touched 96 mph in his rehabilitation assignment.

“I would have liked to feel better, I would’ve liked to throw 93 and be able to pitch in the playoffs, but to know that there’s some velocity still in there, I think, is definitely a good sign,” he said. “In my bullpens, I’ve been firm enough for my liking , so I’ll see how it goes.”

Read more: As spring training opens, Andrew Friedman hopes Dodgers do more than ‘win the offseason’

How it goes will determine what the free-agent market will look like for Buehler, who will earn $8.025 million this year. His place on the Dodgers isn’t guaranteed beyond this season, as Yamamoto and Glasnow are signed to long-term contracts, and Shohei Ohtani is expected to resume pitching next season.

Buehler said he wasn't thinking about any of that.

“The rest of your career, for me at least, depends on me being healthy and productive this year,” he said. “So that’s obviously my focus.”

Buehler pitched Game 163 of the 2018 regular season against the Colorado Rockies, and he won to deliver the Dodgers another division championship. He replaced Kershaw as the team’s Game 1 starter.

He wants to be that again. In a season in which the Dodgers signed $1.2 billion worth of players, he could be their most important addition.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.