GM meetings point to a winter of spending

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- There's a distinctly different tone being set at the beginning of this MLB offseason compared to the last one, as money seemingly is going to flow back into the game -- and into players' pockets -- one year after one of the slowest markets since the advent of free agency.

The GM meetings this week provided the foundation for what should be a very active winter -- for big markets and small ones alike. Here are four takeaways from four days at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa just north of San Diego:

Big-game hunting

This year, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are getting all the attention Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish received last winter. The difference is they're likely to get…