MLB

The Baltimore Orioles are set to put on an encore performance of last year's ALCS run. A majority of their team is intact, and they are banking on many of their players taking the next step forward in their individual progressions.

It's been quite an offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are set to kick off spring training when pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch on Feb. 19.

Not only was there a change of leadership at the top with a revamped front office, but the team itself will look noticeably different from the one that saw its season end in the first round of last year's playoffs.

Jonathan Papelbon, it seems, has officially attained "toxic asset" status. That's too bad, because the polarizing Philadelphia Phillies closer could legitimately help a contender in need of late-inning relief.

Like, say, the Milwaukee Brewers, who are hoping to crash the party in the hyper-competitive National League Central.

There's been an interesting yarn unfolding in MLB over the last half-decade. Call it The Incredible Expanding Strike Zone.

Whether it's a fairy tale or a horror story depends on whom you ask.

Pitchers and fans who enjoy low-scoring games should applaud the growth of the strike zone, which has been exhaustively documented (more on that in a moment).

Entering their 10th anniversary season, the Washington Nationals have completed the transformation from perennial bottom-feeders to one of the most feared units in baseball, but before the team makes its supposed march to the World Series, it will convene in Viera, Florida, for spring training. 

A long offseason is nearing the end, so it's time to take a look at how the Cincinnati Reds look entering spring training.

During the long offseason, plenty of things happened with the Reds. The team traded key players, added pieces and got healthy. That last part may be the biggest key to the 2015 season.

The 2014 Reds were stung by the injury bug early and often. Injuries to key players throughout the season were too much to overcome and ultimately led to the team missing the playoffs for just the second time in five years.

Since officially taking over for Bud Selig in January, new Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has been proactive about trying to speed up the game and add more offense. The most recent plan would be the biggest so far under his short tenure.

According to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, the league is weighing the idea of shrinking the strike zone:

After an exciting winter, the Seattle Mariners are nearly ready to begin the 2015 season.

Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 20 to officially start spring training. Coming off of an encouraging 87-75 season and bolstered by some key offseason acquisitions, Seattle appears to be in its best shape to compete for the postseason in a number of years.

Reliever Kelvin Herrera was a huge part of the 2014 Kansas City Royals team that reached the World Series. The club recognized that, avoiding arbitration by re-signing him to a two-year, $4.15 million deal, per CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

Questions remain as to when Miguel Cabrera will be ready for the 2015 MLB season after he had ankle surgery in October of last year.