Yoenis Cespedes

Another week. Another round of questions about Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis and Justin Upton—baseball's unfortunate free-agent trio.

As Week 10 of the 2015-16 MLB offseason draws to a close, the future remains murky for those prime-time mashers who are still hanging out in a winter purgatory. The good news for one of those guys (and the bad news for another) is that there's a new five-year offer to report.

What's scarier than Bryce Harper? How about Bryce Harper stacked on top of Yoenis Cespedes?

Not literally, of course, although that would indeed be scary. As a middle-of-the-lineup duo for the Washington Nationals or anyone else, however, it's tough to imagine a more fearsome twosome.

The glacial market for bats is slowly beginning to thaw, which means the long winter wait for Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis and Justin Upton should soon draw to an end as Week 9 of the 2015-2016 MLB offseason comes to a close.

While those unemployed sluggers dominate the conversation, there's also room for some talk about a retired masher and a former ace whose Hall of Fame credentials are in the headlines.

Coming off a huge breakout in 2015, Yoenis Cespedes has a rare sort of distinction on the free-agent market. He's arguably the most talented player still available, but he is also arguably the biggest question mark still available.

Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton have historically bad luck.

As Joel Sherman of the New York Post sees it, the market for free-agent game-changers has never developed at a slower pace.

"Never has there been this many talented free agents unsigned this late into the offseason."

Yoenis Cespedes had help, but the fact is the New York Mets were just two games over .500 when he arrived and National League champions when he left. Cespedes isn't perfect, but the fact is his teams have gone 334-229 in games he has started and 179-229 when he hasn't.

It's already Week 7 of the 2015-16 MLB offseason, and Clayton Kershaw still needs a sidekick.

From figuring out who will be backing up baseball's nastiest starter at Dodger Stadium to trying to explain why so many prominent free-agent bats remain unsigned, there are all sorts of questions to ponder as 2016 inches ever closer.

For a brief moment in time, the entire belief made a lot of sense. 

It was too logical not to.

Major League Baseball’s free agency and trade market had seen the predictable run on starting pitchers, and even a bunch of relievers. Then, somewhat predictably, the biggest position player on either market, Jason Heyward, signed his megadeal with the Chicago Cubs for $184 million over eight seasons.

The 2015 MLB offseason has been an exercise in patience for prime-time outfielders like Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton.

Now that Jason Heyward has inked an eight-year, $184 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, the market has been set and the offseason game of outfield musical chairs can begin.

The 2015 MLB winter meetings have come and gone, but the hot stove is still burning.