MLB

There's no other way to put it: The MLB offseason market for bats is looking bleak. 

While the offensive options are extremely limited, there are still some prominent pitchers up for grabs on the free-agent and trade fronts. Max Scherzer headlines the class of remaining free-agent arms, and aces like Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto have been the subject of trade buzz. 

With the additions of Nelson Cruz, Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith, the 2015 Seattle Mariners roster is nearly complete.

Seattle did a nice job of addressing its major needs while only adding payroll and trading marginal prospects. At the very least, this team looks ready to contend for a playoff spot.

Many of the big dominoes have already fallen on the 2015 MLB offseason, but with roughly a month and a half to go until pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training, there is still work to be done this winter.

From the rise of the super bullpen to the successful implementation of the instant-replay system, there was a lot going on in MLB in 2014. 

While there were plenty of positive trends to focus on, there were also troubling developments that arose that simply can't be ignored. Power continued to vanish in ballparks all around the league, and a flood of Tommy John surgeries hit some of baseball's most talented arms. 

Ever since the departure of former shortstop Jack Wilson, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been searching for an everyday player who could potentially become their franchise shortstop.  

Wilson had a successful career in Pittsburgh, serving primarily as the Pirates' everyday shortstop from 2001-2009.  In 1,159 career games with the Pirates, Wilson batted .269 with 60 home runs, or roughly 10 home runs per season.  

If Yoan Moncada was eligible for MLB's annual first-year player draft in June, he'd be in the running—if not stand as the overwhelming favorite—to be selected with the first overall pick.

Nothing marks the dawn of a new year quite like listing good and bad things from the previous year.

Maybe everyone just thinks too much about Santa Claus' naughty or nice lists around December because the Internet devolved into a wasteland of "best" or "worst" of 2014 lists. Much like baseball's first- and second-half splits, the calendar's arbitrary endpoint sends everyone into reflection mode.

The calendar has turned to 2015 and this means the Mets' upcoming season is that much closer to beginning.

The Mets are hoping to break their eight-year postseason drought and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The team is moving in a good direction for the future, and hopefully this will be the year the Mets take the next step forward.

Here are five resolutions for the Mets for the new year.

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The San Francisco Giants have won three world championships in the past five seasons, and the cornerstone of their success has been strong pitching.

Whether it is the starting rotation or the bullpen, general manager Brian Sabean has consistently built a solid pitching staff. Manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti know how to get the most out of their pitchers.

Looking ahead to the 2015 season, once again, pitching will be essential to the Giants' success. 

The frustration is understandable.

To watch your team sit meekly by during one of the craziest, most active offseasons in recent memory can make a fanbase stir crazy. That holds especially true when you watch that same team lose pivotal pieces in free agency and not replace them.