MLB

In case you haven't yet opened your eyes to the upcoming—and fast-approaching—fantasy baseball season, it's time to stop hitting the snooze button on your internal alarm clock, wake up and start sleepering.

The rumor mill doesn't care what the calendar says. Just because we sit only two weeks away from the start of spring training and about a month off from Cactus and Grapefruit League action getting underway doesn't stop it from spinning, and this past week has seen the mill pick up some serious speed.

The Baltimore Orioles are heading into the 2015 season with a less-than-below-average farm system after stud righty Kevin Gausman and second baseman of the future Jonathan Schoop shed their prospect labels this past year.

As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to offload some of their veteran assets, closer Jonathan Papelbon continues to find himself at the center of trade speculation.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com has more on two teams continuing to show interest:

Star Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada is close to becoming a free agent after it was determined he no longer needs a specific unblocking license from the Office of Foreign Asset Controls.    

Despite swirling rumors this offseason that he might be traded, per ESPN.com's David Schoenfield, it appears that Carlos Gonzalez will be remaining with the Colorado Rockies. At least for the time being, that is.

Reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams is a powerful man because he's the one who gets to hand over the Washington Nationals' lineup card on Opening Day 2015. 

From top to bottom, bullpen to backstop, Washington's roster is built to win right now.

If the Colorado Rockies are going to trade star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in 2015, it doesn't seem like a deal will happen before the regular season starts.     

The 2015 Opening Day roster for the Atlanta Braves will look much different than the 2014 Opening Day roster.

That roster included Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Ervin Santana, among others. 

Those players were a key part of the Braves' 2014 season but will not be around for the 2015 season.

That is a product of the free-agency era as well as a team that underachieved and finished a disappointing 79-83 for the year.

The signing of free agent Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract improved the Washington Nationals’ starting rotation from arguably the best to undoubtedly the best in baseball.