MLB

After being disappointing for most of the offseason by missing out on a couple coveted free agents, the Chicago Cubs made their first major free-agent splash in five years. That splash, of course, was the six-year, $155 million contract they signed ace Jon Lester to at the winter meetings.

The 2014 MLB winter meetings saw many big splashes, but the Atlanta Braves were not a part of one of them.

Despite rumors of the Braves being involved in trade talks, nothing materialized on that front.

The two main trade targets the Braves are shopping are Justin Upton and Evan Gattis, and things remained quiet on that front throughout the week, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman:

After one of the most active winter meetings in recent memory, several general managers have planted the seeds for potential dealings in the coming weeks of the offseason.

Many teams were active while in San Diego, making huge trades and signings that have already shaken up the landscape of the upcoming season. The MLB trade rumors won't stop just because the meetings are over, however.

The Cincinnati Reds made headlines Thursday with two big trades in which they parted with two of their five starting pitchers from the 2014 season.

Are there any MLB players left to trade?

With winter meetings closing shop on Thursday, teams decided to throw a massive going-away party in San Diego. A frenzy of deals hit the fan before concluding the convention, spawning many of the offseason's hottest rumors.

A lot of talented MLB trade targets are still available after the winter meetings in San Diego came to a close Thursday afternoon.

With the 2014 MLB winter meetings now in the rearview, it's time to take a look at how a busy four days in San Diego may have changed the landscape of the league looking ahead to the 2015 season.

A whopping seven 2014 All-Stars found new homes this past week, as Jon Lester, Jeff Samardzija, Dee Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes, Miguel Montero, Alfredo Simon and Pat Neshek joined new teams.

In the early a.m. on Thursday, I gave Walt Jocketty a C- for his participation in the winter meetings. This was clearly before Mr. Jocketty's phone went nitro and things started to move.

Well, that was fun.

One of the most frenzied and hectic winter meetings in memory is in the books and in the process, we got answers to some of the hottest questions in baseball.

Jon Lester decided against a reunion with the Boston Red Sox, signing instead with the Chicago Cubs, while the Los Angeles Dodgers found a taker for Matt Kemp and his burdensome contract. But with those answers come even more questions.

Major League Baseball's winter meetings may be over, but the shock from what transpired on Thursday may linger.

The final days of the event featured a flurry of deals involving All-Star players, as Matt Kemp, Yoenis Cespedes, Mat Latos, Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, Dee Gordon and Alfredo Simon were all included in separate trades.

Many teams considering whether to deal high-profile players this past week were ultimately swayed by offers featuring young players and prospects in return, with some clubs netting as many as three or four in some deals.