MLB

Most of the offseason's biggest trades come prior to the flipping of the calendar, but there could still be a blockbuster or two in the works as the MLB offseason continues on through January.

Despite the calm associated with the holidays, there are still a few MLB trade rumors to analyze. The rumor mill is done churning out bit after bit like it did during the winter meetings. That said, the buzz that comes out now can still have an impact.

For any team looking for a summer rental, there are two clear properties that stand out above all other options.

The calendar's about to turn—another baseball season and spin 'round the sun in the books—and still James Shields sits, unsigned.

That's not an utter surprise; this offseason was ridiculously pitching-rich.

To put it in focus: Max Scherzer, the marquee arm on the market, is also unemployed heading into 2015.

The Washington Nationals are almost three months into the offseason and general manager Mike Rizzo's finger is still resting on the trigger of nearly all of the team's biggest potential maneuvers. 

Troy Tulowitzki sure draws a lot of trade interest for a player who has an extremely difficult time staying on the field. 

Over the past three seasons, the 30-year-old has missed out on 222 games due to an assortment of injuries. When he has remained on the diamond, the Colorado Rockies veteran has been one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues.

The Cleveland Indians are reportedly ready to renege on their considerable investment in All-Star Nick Swisher.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have revamped their roster this offseason with a flurry moves during the winter meetings, but there are still questions remaining now that the dust has settled for the time being.

There is still a lot of offseason to go before pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training in the middle of February, but we have already seen a bevy of high-priced free-agent signings and blockbuster trades this winter.

Pitchers Max Scherzer and James Shields highlight what is left of the free-agent class, while Cole Hamels remains the most-talked-about trade chip, but there are a number of potential contributors still looking for homes around the league.

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame process is flawed.

OK, we got that out of the way. So now there is no real need to dive into why it should be tweaked or how it should be fixed—a Baseball Writers’ Association of America panel recommended expanding the number of players eligible for each ballot from 10 to 12 during the Winter Meetings earlier this month.

For many MLB teams, the offseason doesn't begin until the new year.

Clubs such as the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have been aggressive from the beginning and have made drastic improvements to their rosters. Will they automatically be the winners when Opening Day of the 2015 season begins? There's still plenty of time, so we'll have to wait and see.

Take a look at the Baltimore Orioles last season. Their two biggest moves came in February, signing Ubaldo Jimenez and then Nelson Cruz in what turned out to be the best deal of the offseason.