Baseball

Andrew Friedman inherited a pretty good starting rotation when he agreed to run the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was weak at the back end, sure, but having Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu at the top more than made up for that.

But then again, why settle for "pretty good" when you can aim for "great?"

It has been two years since the New York Yankees made the postseason, so naturally there were going to be some changes and transactions this winter.

So far we have seen the Yankees take a slow and careful approach.

On the same day the Chicago Cubs officially announced they signed Jon Lester, the team is reportedly shoring up the bullpen.    

According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, the Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with veteran reliever Jason Motte:

The Washington Nationals have been decidedly quiet so far this offseason. But with more than two months down and just one trade in the books, it feels like the dominoes are about to begin tumbling down in D.C.

The Chicago Cubs officially introduced starting pitcher Jon Lester as the newest member of the organization on Monday afternoon.    

Fox Sports: MLB captured the moment on Twitter:

Chase Headley isn't the big free-agent fish New York Yankees fans have been waiting for. His signing won't splash across the headlines, and he won't single-handedly carry New York back to the top of the American League East.

A case can be made that the New York Mets possess the best collection of young pitching in the major leagues, with a projected 2015 starting rotation that includes right-handers Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom.

Plus, it shouldn’t be long until they’re joined by a host of other young arms, too, as prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz both are close to being ready for The Show.

Not every move is pulled off, not every need filled at the MLB Winter Meetings.

For as much hype as the gathering produces, and rightfully so this year, there are teams that go in with plenty of expectations but simply leave with the same roster with which they arrived. It leaves fans disappointed that their guys were not part of the hoopla, but it does not mean said team is done maneuvering.

The Seattle Mariners are such a team.

I know what you're thinking.

"Fix" is a silly word to use for a team that won the American League East by 12 games last year, clubbed more than 200 home runs for the third consecutive season and swept the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series.

Still, after losing Nelson Cruz, Andrew Miller and Nick Markakis to free agency and with Delmon Young possibly on the way out as well, the O's have some work to do if they want to compete for another division crown in 2015.