Opinion

If you see Miguel Cabrera and Andrew McCutchen walking around, they might be comporting themselves a little differently. Chest puffed out. Semi-smug grin. Bouncy steps.

If so, well, who can blame them? Awards tend to do that to people.

With the Hot Stove season in full swing and rumors flying around about what the New York Mets will do in free agency, the 2014 roster is far from set.

While moves in free agency and the trade market need to be made before the Mets can be considered a potential playoff team, there is one player already on the roster whose development can push the Mets to a 2014 playoff berth: Travis d’Arnaud. 

As the Riddler and the Penguin are reprimanded for their diabolical deeds, a city swoons, a nation melts and Batkid goes home for a well-deserved afternoon nap. 

Chances are you've heard of this Batkid fellow. He is a caped crusader who, with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, made a leukemia patient's comic-book dream come true. 

After seven consecutive years without postseason baseball and five straight without a winning record, New York Mets fans are anxious for general manager Sandy Alderson to be aggressive on the free-agent and trade market this offseason.

Money is the name of the game in Major League Baseball free agency, which often results in the rich only getting richer by plucking the game's top free agents.

And for every highly coveted free-agent superstar who signs elsewhere and flourishes, there's also a big name who never comes close to living up to the gaudy price tag that he showed up with. 

Here are a couple of gems in this year's class that will pay dividends for the owners and general managers who pony up the funds.

For all 30 Major League Baseball teams and the free agents looking for a new home in 2014, this time of the year represents the calm before the storm. 

The general manager and owner meetings just ended, with some player movement and new funding for a replay system that could be implemented as soon as next season. We are seeing and hearing more rumors about trades and teams finalizing their needs. 

Anyone remember the ALCS this year?

Anybody?

If you do remember, your memory is that it was a very, very close series. It sounds silly, but it was probably the closest series ever that didn’t go to seven games.

You’ll also remember the Detroit Tigers blowing the series because of their bullpen. That bullpen needs help if the Tigers want to finally win a World Series. Here are four relievers they should sign.

This offseason the New York Yankees expect to be a very busy organization. 

Following a season in which they failed to reach the playoffs for only the second time since 1995, changes will be extensive and rumors as to whom GM Brian Cashman is pursuing have been a daily occurrence.

This article will take a look at the five most talked-about targets in the Yankees' crosshairs and what the pros and cons to each are.

Expect the New York Yankees to be at the epicenter of everything free agency this offseason.

Not only are they the franchise with the most money to spend. They also have extremely large holes to fill.

The Yankees will be a possible landing spot for what seems like just about every top free agent available on the market.

General managers from around Major League Baseball wrapped up their initial meetings of the offseason on Wednesday and there weren't any major moves to report. But expect the wheeling and dealing to pick up as we head closer to the Winter Meetings, which will take place Dec. 9-12.