Opinion

It's still hard to tell where Max Scherzer is going to sign, but logic says that he'll end up signing with the team that simply has to have him.

According to the latest report, that team is the Detroit Tigers. And if we once again ask our pal logic, it says said report might be right.

The best way to summarize Major League Baseball's offseason is it resembled a heavy metal concert. There was a quiet beginning, followed by the massive head rush that happened at the winter meetings and currently waiting for one loud coda before spring training begins. 

Many MLB executives had hoped to use free agency to strengthen their respective units before the 2015 season. 

However, some of those higher-ups are discovering that the selections on the open market have become quite sparse. 

Thankfully, finding a trade partner is a much more reasonable task in MLB than it is in other professional sports. With assets that span over various levels, organizations are well-suited to make a deal with either selling or buying in mind. 

Just four years after World War II ended and two years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, Minnie Minoso made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians.

Obsessing over Yoan Moncada yet?

No? Well, you should be. The 19-year-old Cuban is a potential franchise cornerstone, and the bidding for his services projects to be very crowded.

Joakim Soria had a forgettable time with the Detroit Tigers last season. After being shipped over in a trade from Texas he pitched poorly in the regular season (4.91 ERA), and even worse in the postseason (0-1, 45.00 ERA in two games).

It's a problem every MLB team would love to have: a young star in the making prepared to break out but (possibly) blocked in the short term. 

Still, it can be a problem or, at least, a jaw-grinding conundrum.

Certainly, it's nice to have blue-chip prospects knocking on the door. But the "when" and "how" of their eventual ascent is frequently sticky, influenced by arbitration clocks, roster machinations and the simple, unavoidable question: Is he ready?

The St. Louis Cardinals have found success over the last few seasons with a strong pitching staff. The rotation, while successful, has been a source of injury concern. The team has seemed confident that the starting pitchers are healthy for the 2015 season. Their rumored interest in top-tier starters may suggest otherwise.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been quiet ever since starting their winter off with a bang by acquiring Jason Heyward. A bit too quiet.

One month removed from the winter meetings, Major League Baseball's hot stove seems to have burned out. There are still two big free-agent dominoes in Max Scherzer and James Shields, but the trade winds are starting to pick up once again.