MLB

The Seattle Mariners are betting big that Nelson Cruz, whose 40 home runs led all of Major League Baseball in 2014, can help get them to the playoffs for the first time in a long time. Like, 13 years long.

The calendar has turned to December, bringing about unbearably cold climates and a flaming MLB hot stove.

Generally, the annual winter meetings are when the MLB offseason really takes off, but this year, we have seen more action than ever in November, as a number of top free agents have already found new homes and a pair of blockbuster deals have been made.

That being said, expect the meetings to be as busy as ever when they kick off in San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The pitching market in particular could be busy as teams still wait for Jon Lester to sign a new deal and set the bar for the rest of this year's crop of free agent arms.

The 2014-15 MLB offseason began like any other.

Then everything changed.

There was a time when Gaby Sanchez was considered an offensive threat at the plate for opposing pitchers. 

That time was five seasons ago, as the young first baseman was coming off his second straight 19-home run season.  Between 2010-2011 as a member of the then-known-as Florida Marlins, Sanchez drove in 163 runs in 310 games.  

One of the things that makes baseball's offseason the most exciting of all the major professional sports leagues is that you never know what's going to happen.

The opportunities for players and teams alike to surprise—and disappoint—with their decision-making are more plentiful than at any other point during the year. As history has shown us, everyone involved is always up for the challenge.

The American League East is forcing the New York Yankees’ hand. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have been very busy this offseason as general manager Alex Anthopoulos continues to tinker with the team’s roster in order to be competitive next season.

The San Francisco Giants just lost Pablo Sandoval, their third baseman and cleanup hitter. So, naturally, they should set their sights on...Jon Lester, starting pitcher.

Seems counterintuitive on its face. Sandoval's departure leaves a panda-sized hole in the San Francisco lineup; shouldn't filling it be priority No. 1?

Sometimes it's best not to spend all of your money in one place. For MLB clubs, sometimes it's best not to spend all of their money in one offseason. 

That's starting to look like the case this year. The winter meetings are still a week away, but already the free-agent market is getting light.