Opinion

With MLB free agency beginning Monday night, the Seattle Mariners can officially start signing players in an attempt to upgrade their offense.

The St. Louis Cardinals were escorted into the offseason short of winning their 12th World Series championship. Looking ahead, the core of the team remains intact, and the Cardinals will need to make some cost-effective adjustments to their roster this winter.

Big spending is out of the question. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. hasn't operated like that since he took the reigns of the organization in 1996.

The St. Louis Cardinals face a few questions during the offseason as they prepare for 2015. The team has found a successful formula by cultivating talent in their minor league system. General Manager John Mozeliak has also shown that he is not afraid to go out and find a complimentary piece on the free agent market or in trades.

Awful baseball teams tend to deal away veteran talent. Such is common practice in Major League Baseball.

The Seattle Mariners, until recently, fit the bill of one of those awful baseball teams. Only twice did they surpass the 75-win plateau from 2004 to 2013. The M’s, like any other dreadful team in their situation, dealt away most players of worth. Out the door went Cliff Lee, Michael Morse, Ichiro Suzuki, et al.

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.

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.