Opinion

As the year that saw the Boston Red Sox win their third World Series Championship in 10 years winds to a close, fans and analysts are wondering what the franchise will do to back up their crown in 2014.

Boston has been relatively quiet this offseason, as shown by the team's transactions provided by CBS Sports.

Even though there are still a few big prizes left on the free-agent market, most Major League Baseball teams have done the bulk of their winter shopping already and are making final preparations for the 2014 season.

What better time to take a look back at what has happened on the hot stove?

It's time to hand out grades for all 30 teams based on what they have or haven't done this winter. Keep in mind that some of these marks can still move up, depending on what happens with key players like Masahiro Tanaka, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana.

It’s safe to say that Oakland A’s outfielders struggled in 2013. In fact, they ranked 28th in the majors with a collective batting average of .236.

You might consider the Oakland Athletics to be winners this offseason. You might say the flurry of moves they made were average. But each move had major implications—some good, some bad—for the individual players involved.

For example, certain guys held on to their role while others lost theirs. One guy in particular made out like a bandit with the money he'll make, while another essentially lost out on millions.

Then there's a certain piece of offseason news that affects the fans.

The New York Yankees have been on a shopping spree this winter, committing $300 million in new contracts to players such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts among others as well as re-signing Hiroki Kuroda and Derek Jeter. 

While there are still a number of MLB free agents available, most of the top options are already off of the market. This has caused teams around the league to look toward trades to improve the roster for next season.

Of course, franchises are smart enough to avoid giving away a player for nothing. This will keep potential deals from moving quickly as the negotiation process continues through the start of the regular season.

Brandon Belt is set for a breakout year in 2014. The San Francisco Giants first baseman posted incredible numbers in the second half of 2013, batting .326 after the All-Star break after hitting .260 before. His OPS went from .784 to .915, a 131-point increase. But if you followed the Giants in 2013, you already knew that.

There are still several miles to go in what has surely become one of the most exciting major league baseball offseasons in recent memory. 

But the Texas Rangers got most of their business done before Christmas Day. Barring a major signing of Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka or maybe one or two smaller depth-related signings, they appear just about ready to head into 2014.

Even in the New York Yankees' universe, not everything is pinstripe navy blue and white.

Logic dictates that it would not be a good thing for the Yankees if Alex Rodriguez's 211-game suspension were to be overturned. But at the same time, would it be such a bad thing?

Evelyn Lozada didn't just get ice for Christmas; she damn near got an entire glacier.