MLB Rumors

Sports fans may have their attention firmly turned toward football and basketball around the holidays, but pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than two months. That means MLB teams are running out of time to make any corresponding roster moves. 

Naturally, there are rumors circulating around the league regarding the futures of some players who could potentially switch teams before late February.

Here is a look at some of those rumors.

Although the winter meetings allowed numerous MLB teams to cross some names off their holiday shopping lists, plenty of big gifts still await.  Even with superstars like Jon Lester and Pablo Sandoval signing with new teams, the league has yet to see a resulting domino effect, and other top-tier players have yet to find new (or old) teams.

Patience is a virtue for teams looking to bring in talented players without paying through the roof.

The beginning of the MLB free-agent period usually features a rash of quick signings for a lot of money. While this often makes the market more competitive as teams get desperate, treating free agency like Christmas Eve shopping is not the smartest decision.

The buzz around MLB this time of year is intense. While it is a blast keeping up with the latest rumors surrounding your favorite team, much of the speculation ends up being nothing more than hearsay.

Let’s play a round of Fact or Fiction with the latest news.

To be sure, we can’t cover every rumor that's floating around. Rather, we will focus on a few select pieces of information that have circulated over the past several days. That way, we can stay as current as possible.

Much of the chatter in the MLB has died down as the winter chill has set in across the nation, with the majority of big-name free agents inked to lucrative contracts and a variety of blockbuster trades—including of course the high-risk, high-reward moves pulled off by the San Diego Padres—already stamped as done deals.

All MLB fans want for the holidays is a big offseason acquisition to unwrap this spring.

Not everyone has thrown caution to the wind like the San Diego Padres, so several clubs are still searching for upgrades before Opening Day. With three months remaining before the season commences, plenty of time remains to complete some deals.

If you thought the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox were done signing players this offseason just because they respectively landed Jon Lester and Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, think again.

Boston and Chicago are pursuing backup catchers, but they are not the only ones involved in rumors from around the league.

Read on for some of the latest buzz from around baseball as the season approaches.

David Ross

With undoubtedly the busiest winter meetings in recent memory now in the rearview, to-do lists are dwindling around the league, but there is still a lot of work to be done by all 30 teams between now and the start of spring training.

Max Scherzer and James Shields headline the remaining crop of free-agent starters, with Edinson Volquez, Jake Peavy, Aaron Harang and buy-low options like Brandon Morrow, Brett Anderson and Chad Billingsley also available.

The first day of the 2014 MLB winter meetings was relatively quiet, but with a decision looming from Jon Lester, things are set to explode in San Diego over the next three days.

Three significant moves did get done during the first day of the meetings, with a the groundwork laid for a fourth as Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox became official early Tuesday morning.

Expect plenty more action between now and things wrapping up on Thursday evening, as teams continue to rework their rosters for the upcoming season.

Who knew it would start raining bats in Seattle?

Robinson Cano last winter. Nelson Cruz this winter. Maybe the drought is finally over. The Seattle Mariners: Early AL West favorites entering 2015? You bet. Mark it down. Lattes all around.

And keep pouring: With a zesty mix of youth and experience, the Mariners now are built to win not just in 2015, but also for a handful of years beyond.