Opinion

Jose Bautista may have entered the free-agent waters thinking they would take him to a better, richer harbor. Instead, they've pushed him right back from where he came.

And that's not so bad.

The kid showed up unannounced, riding on the back of a motorcycle, wearing shoes that didn't match.

"One was larger than the other," Fred Ferreira remembered. "He had a sock stuffed into one of them so it would fit."

Pitchers and catchers with a predilection for pre-planning (say that five times fast) have already begun packing their bags for Florida and Arizona. Spring training is almost here, people, and not a moment too soon.

As we prepare for the glory of fresh-cut grass and exhibition baseball, let's zoom a lens on the New York Yankees.

The rich get richer. The good get better. It doesn't always work that way, but sometimes it does.

Just ask the Chicago Cubs.

One year after winning their first World Series since the debut of the Model T Ford, the Cubs are positioned for another deep postseason run.

When the San Diego Padres acquired Wil Myers in December 2014, he was a talented, injury-prone enigma. Two years and change later, he has a chance to be a franchise cornerstone.

On Friday, Myers and the Padres agreed to a six-year extension worth "more than $80 million," per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. 

There are things the 2017 MLB season can be counted on to deliver. Mike Trout will make highlights. Giancarlo Stanton's bat will make loud noises. Bartolo Colon will make assorted GIFs.

But if you're counting on some intense division races, we need to talk.

The Hall of Fame lists Frank Thomas as a first baseman.

Not as a first baseman/designated hitter. Not as a designated hitter/first baseman.

The 2016-17 MLB free-agent class was projected to be a dud, and it hasn't disappointed.

Or, rather, it has.

It's risky these days to call any prospect untouchable, as we've seen too many blockbuster deals in recent years to truly believe anyone is 100 percent safe from being moved in the right deal.

After all, who would have guessed that Yoan Moncada would be dealt this winter?

That said, a handful of prospects around the league come awfully close to being untouchable, as their future upside and expected long-term role with their teams make trading them highly unlikely.

"Depth" is a loaded word for the New York Mets.

The Mets won the National League pennant in 2015 on the strength of their stacked, young starting rotation. Last season, the same group was beset by injuries, and it is a question mark going into 2017.