Opinion

While the last-minute holiday hordes descend on department stores across America, MLB teams still have time to finish their offseason shopping lists.

But the options are dwindling—fast.

As Christmas approaches, with New Year's nipping at its heels, the number of players left on the shelf keeps shrinking.

That means clubs with glaring holes will have to sharpen their focus, and the few unsigned impact names will have to take realistic stock of their options.

The previous two offseasons have left us with a new, unexpected baseball term: Victim of the Qualifying Offer, which refers to a player who has spurned the offer in search of longer-term riches only to regret how he played his hand.

Ever since Guggenheim Baseball Management purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, the Dodgers have been the most polarizing team in MLB.  They immediately went out and acquired superstars like Adrian G

If the Cincinnati Reds were holding out hope of Johnny Cueto giving them a hometown discount on an extension, it sounds like they can forget about it.

Though 2015 doesn't officially begin until January 1, the Chicago Cubs have already kicked off their 2015 by making a huge splash in free agency and a few trades during the 2014-15 offseason.

The Atlanta Braves have completely transformed their roster this offseason as we sit at the two-month mark.

The man pegged to be the future face of the franchise as he ascended through the minors (Jason Heyward), was traded away to St. Louis.

The player who generated so much excitement as he completed the most thrilling outfield in the game (Justin Upton) did not last as long in Atlanta as the "throw in" (Chris Johnson) from that trade.

The beauty of the MLB offseason is that you never know if the biggest move of the winter has been made.

Much of the chatter in the MLB has died down as the winter chill has set in across the nation, with the majority of big-name free agents inked to lucrative contracts and a variety of blockbuster trades—including of course the high-risk, high-reward moves pulled off by the San Diego Padres—already stamped as done deals.

The New York Yankees need Yoan Moncada, the next Cuban sensation readying to make his way to Major League Baseball. And they need him for oh-so-many reasons.

Dear Santa,

Reds fan here. We haven't been on the greatest of terms since Clinchmas, now over four years ago. Where have you been since? And what's with all the coal in our red stockings?