MLB

Coming off one of the most-discussed postseasons in recent memory, Major League Baseball is not resting on its laurels. The offseason is in full swing, which means teams are preparing offers to free agents and lining up their trade chips. 

Outfielder Torii Hunter was a key to the Detroit Tigers' run to yet another American League Central title. After yet another solid season, Hunter's name is now generating buzz around the MLB this offseason. 

The Boston Red Sox figure to be active players in the free-agent market, and they'll need to be if they hope to compete once more in 2015.

The Red Sox need to add significant pieces to their starting rotation. They need to shore up their bullpen. And they must seriously considering pursuing upgrades at the hot corner and at backup catcher, too.

While there are a number of deserving candidates in each league this year, a pair of players have separated themselves as true favorites for the MLB Rookie of the Year Awards.

Throughout baseball, there are tons of young stars capable of becoming MVP or Cy Young candidates in the future. However, the beauty of this award is that you only get one chance at it by being the best player in your class.

Now that MLB teams are free to negotiate and sign free agents, the period of pure speculation is over. 

Tuesday marks the first official day of free agency, a long process where patience ultimately pays off. Due to qualifying offers, which players must accept or decline this week, a few mid-level players found themselves in purgatory last offseason, waiting as long as past Opening Day to sign for teams reticent to forfeit a compensatory draft pick.

After two winning seasons at the helm for the Cleveland Indians, manager Terry Francona's future is now secure thanks to the finalization of a contract extension Tuesday.

Well that didn't take long.

Less than a week after the conclusion of the World Series, before the Hot Stove League has truly opened its doors for business, we've already seen some big names come off the rumor mill, which is still weeks away from kicking into high gear.

Whether it's as a free-agent signing or a potential trade candidate, there's been no shortage of intriguing rumors and speculation for baseball fans to feast upon. It really is the most wonderful time of the year for fans because, at this point, anything's possible.

Yasmany Tomas remains quite a mystery, or at least an unproven commodity, to many in and around Major League Baseball, but that could work in the Cuban defector-turned-free agent's favor this offseason.

So much of the focus over the winter will be on the pitching market, headed by aces Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, as well as the consistent, durable James Shields and possibly Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda if he is posted.

After getting started with a look at the top starting pitchers available on the offseason market, the B/R MLB Offseason 100 will now continue with a look at the top relief pitchers.

Our list includes 15 relievers. Most of them will be available on the free-agent market, but a couple are trade candidates plucked from rumors and/or highly plausible speculation.

The Cubs' cold-blooded sacking of Rick Renteria for the new-school/old-school wisdom of Joe Maddon is not unprecedented in the hardball world, not even close.

In fact, if this works anything like the Tigers' cold-blooded sacking of a man named Les Moss for the instant gratification of Sparky Anderson, the untidiness of this soon will be forgotten, and the Cubs will be completely vindicated.