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Even with most of the top free-agent targets off the board, teams are still looking to fill important roster voids.

And while remaining free agents like Shin-Soo Choo, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez would have big impacts on their new prospective teams, general managers will still need to fill roster spots with lesser, veteran options too.

Take Mark Ellis, for instance. Ellis posted a 3.0 bWAR in 2013, but as a defense-first 36-year-old, he likely wouldn’t command a big contract.

Read on to see all the veteran MLB free agents who are huge short-term values.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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This offseason has been particularly busy. But the winter meetings have traditionally been the greatest vehicle for wheeling and dealing.

To date, only a few trades have gone down, with the three-way deal between the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels being the most significant. According to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert, Mark Trumbo will head to the Diamondbacks, Adam Eaton to the White Sox and Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs to the Angels.

With all the swirling rumors and ample time left in the winter meetings, several more free-agent signings and trades could go down. Yet not all of the latest rumors are necessarily beneficial for the involved teams.

Read on to see all the hot MLB rumors the linked teams should avoid at all costs.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Generally speaking, the MLB winter meetings tend to generate the most free-agent signings and surprising trades. But in 2013, the tides might have changed.

Over the past week, Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Hiroki Kuroda, Curtis Granderson, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joe Nathan, Mike Napoli and a slew of other free agents put pen to paper. There were also nine trades, with Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals perhaps being the most significant.

But even with big spenders such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox likely tapped out, a variety of game-changing players are still available to the highest bidder. For instance, with Ellsbury and Granderson off the market, Shin-Soo Choo instantly becomes the best-hitting outfielder for which prospective suitors can compete.

Read on to see the biggest contracts that could transpire from the 2013 MLB winter meetings.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Fans and critics alike were on the edge of their seats awaiting the coveted 2013 MVP award winner announcements. And while the ongoing debates about “Miguel Cabrera versus Mike Trout” were at full force yet again, it will hardly be the last time the pair square off.

Looking ahead to 2014, the potential winners for all major awards could go in a variety of directions. For instance, a strong season from 2013 Rookie of the Year Award-winner Jose Fernandez could unseat ace Clayton Kershaw as the reigning Cy Young Award winner.

And perhaps to the pleasure of stat-heads everywhere, it’s possible that the maturing Trout could finally earn the MVP award that is rightfully his. 

Read on to see all the early predictions for the 2014 MLB season’s major award winners.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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The offseason just kicked off. And while there hasn’t been a monumental free-agent signing or a blockbuster trade, it’s inevitable that the first domino will fall soon.

And as soon as players are on the move, fans and owners naturally begin to critique general managers.

Going into the 2014 season, a lot is on the line for several general managers. For instance, Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry Dipoto signed Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton to a combined $365 million over the past two offseasons. Despite the sizable investment, both players have been complete duds, which also puts Dipoto’s job security into question.

Read on to see all the MLB general managers on the hot seat this winter.

All statistics and salary information sourced from Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus.

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Like any baseball season, the 2013 season had its ups, downs, surprises and “I told you sos.”

While it’s always exciting to watch rookies like Michael Wacha emerge from the depths of the minor leagues to start games in the World Series, it’s equally as exhilarating to witness offseason acquisitions prove their value.

For instance, the Los Angeles Dodgers inked a relatively unknown South Korean pitcher named Hyun-jin Ryu who quickly became a rotation fixture and helped the team advance to the NLCS. On the other end of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Angels were hoping to boast a slugging tandem of Albert Pujols and acquisition Josh Hamilton. But Hamilton, whom the Angels signed to a five-year, $125 million deal, came up short.

Read on to see all the final 2013 report card grades for MLB’s 25 biggest offseason moves.

*All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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The 2013 World Series has been an exciting one. Despite dropping Game 2 and 3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox have come roaring back, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.

But while players’ minds are certainly focused on capturing a ring, many of the series’ stars will either be free agents or in line for a salary boost in the offseason.

For instance, outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will likely seek a monster seven-year deal in his first free agency. On the other end of the spectrum, the pre-arbitration Matt Carpenter could be rewarded for his regular season heroics with an extension.

Read on to see all of the World Series stars about to cash in with big paydays.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Managing during the regular season and playoffs are two entirely different animals. In the postseason, skippers are constantly faced with contentious situations that not only make or break a game, but also the season.

And while the focus of the playoffs tends to be on stars performing to their regular-season accolades, the decisions managers green light often have a similarly drastic effect on a game’s outcome.

For instance, David Ortiz would have never faced Joaquin Benoit in Game 2 (and hit a clutch grand slam) if Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland had simply let starter Max Scherzer complete his game.

Read on to see the critical managerial moves that shifted the ALCS and NLCS.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Up until the bottom of the ninth inning, it seemed as though the Boston Red Sox would pull off a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays. But with one swing of the bat, Rays catcher Jose Lobaton smacked a walk-off solo home run (419 feet) off Koji Uehara to keep the team’s hopes alive.

As timely as Lobaton’s home run was, the Rays cannot simply depend on last-minute heroics to best a powerhouse like the Red Sox. The Rays will need Game 4 starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson to deal more like his 2012 self (a park-adjusted 124 ERA+) and less like his 2013 self (a 74 ERA+).

And even though the Red Sox own a convincing one-game lead over the Rays, Uehara’s 2013 postseason 5.40 ERA is worrisome.

Read on to see keys to each team winning Game 4 of the ALDS.

All statistics sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Every baseball season has its surprises. Whether it’s rookies emerging into stars, stars playing like duds or earth-shattering injuries, a baseball season always throws fans a curveball.

In 2013, fans have witnessed a wide array of surprises. Jose Fernandez and Yasiel Puig have not only made it to the major leagues sooner than expected, but have also emerged as legitimate stars for the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. And while the Toronto Blue Jays have fell flat despite lofty expectations, the Pittsburgh Pirates will likely make their first playoff appearance since 1992.

Read on to see the eight biggest surprises of the 2013 MLB season.

All statistics (through September 14) sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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