Opinion

The Boston Red Sox are among the most aggressive teams in baseball so far this offseason.  They signed a pair of big-name free-agent bats in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.  The Red Sox also revamped their starting rotation with Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson.

The new year is almost upon us, which means so are New Year's resolutions.

It is a tradition for people to come up with changes they want to make in their lives, whether it be eating healthier, going to the gym more or quitting a bad habit like smoking. We all have areas in which we would love to improve.

So do the New York Yankees.

When the Toronto Blue Jays first acquired Kyle Drabek in 2009 as part of a package of prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for ace Roy Halladay, the team’s hope was that Drabek would eventually develop into a frontline starter in the major leagues.

There's usually a lull in the MLB offseason during the holidays, but expect the peace and quiet to come to an end once the calendar turns to 2015. There's still wheeling and dealing to be done.

For now, it seems as if even the MLB trade rumors have taken a backseat to eggnog and caroling. The few we do have focus on players with the ability to play the outfield.

Most of the offseason's biggest trades come prior to the flipping of the calendar, but there could still be a blockbuster or two in the works as the MLB offseason continues on through January.

Despite the calm associated with the holidays, there are still a few MLB trade rumors to analyze. The rumor mill is done churning out bit after bit like it did during the winter meetings. That said, the buzz that comes out now can still have an impact.

For any team looking for a summer rental, there are two clear properties that stand out above all other options.

The calendar's about to turn—another baseball season and spin 'round the sun in the books—and still James Shields sits, unsigned.

That's not an utter surprise; this offseason was ridiculously pitching-rich.

To put it in focus: Max Scherzer, the marquee arm on the market, is also unemployed heading into 2015.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have revamped their roster this offseason with a flurry moves during the winter meetings, but there are still questions remaining now that the dust has settled for the time being.

There is still a lot of offseason to go before pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training in the middle of February, but we have already seen a bevy of high-priced free-agent signings and blockbuster trades this winter.

Pitchers Max Scherzer and James Shields highlight what is left of the free-agent class, while Cole Hamels remains the most-talked-about trade chip, but there are a number of potential contributors still looking for homes around the league.

For many MLB teams, the offseason doesn't begin until the new year.

Clubs such as the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have been aggressive from the beginning and have made drastic improvements to their rosters. Will they automatically be the winners when Opening Day of the 2015 season begins? There's still plenty of time, so we'll have to wait and see.

Take a look at the Baltimore Orioles last season. Their two biggest moves came in February, signing Ubaldo Jimenez and then Nelson Cruz in what turned out to be the best deal of the offseason.