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The 2015 MLB postseason is about to begin, but it’s never too early to look ahead to some of the situations that will play out throughout the offseason. Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of sell-high, buy-low transactions that teams need to consider this winter.

Baseball is the most fickle sport under the sun. It’s extremely hard to predict which teams and players will be able to sustain high levels of production or bounce back from down years. Add in other variables like contracts, injuries and organizational status, and the decision-making process for front office executives becomes even harder.

That’s why teams try to be pro-active in certain situations. By trading players at their peak, teams are able to achieve maximum value. The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds will face that tough decision of whether or not to part with elite talent in Matt Harvey and Aroldis Chapman for the future of the team.

On the flip side, front offices can find bargains on the free-agent or trade markets by capitalizing on a player’s subpar season. Injuries and inconsistent play affect production every year, but in some cases, a return to form isn’t as far away as it appears. Players like Denard Span, Jeff Samardzija and Starlin Castro are prime examples of that scenario.

Let us know what you think about our selections in the comment section below. Would you trade Harvey or Chapman? Would disappointing seasons from Span, Samardzija or Castro scare you away? Who are some other sell-high, buy-low candidates?

Teams that tackle these situations in the appropriate manner are much more likely to experience sustained success. The following players may have complicated scenarios, but we’ll attempt to decipher which way teams should view them this winter.

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October has a way of defining careers. Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of MLB players who seem poised for a breakout during postseason play. 

The definition of what constitutes a breakout star will vary, but each player on this list has at least flashed some sort of top-tier quality in his career. More than a few are hurt by the shadow of more talented teammates, while some are still too young to have made much of an impact.

Can Travis d’Arnaud stay healthy and put together a quality month for the New York Mets? Starling Marte and Addison Russell are often overlooked in favor of their teammates, but each is capable of changing a postseason series. Elsewhere, Luis Severino and Marcus Stroman can use October to make their cases as future aces. 

What do you think of the players that we picked? Who are some other under-the-radar players ready to bust out in the postseason? Let us know in the comments section below. 

October will always be MLB’s proving ground. Fortunately for baseball fans, there is no shortage of talented players who appear ready to take the next step. 

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As the 2015 MLB playoff picture comes into focus, let’s take a moment to identify several injured stars whose health will be determining factors in October.

Over the next few slides, we’ll rank various postseason injury comebacks around the league in order of importance. What makes a player’s return more important than another? Talent is an obvious factor, but aspects like position depth, leadership and production prior to injury will all be taken into account. 

There is no shortage of compelling injury storylines to follow with just under a week left to play. Adam Wainwright, Yasiel Puig, Masahiro Tanaka, Troy Tulowitzki and a handful of other well-known players have various ailments to deal with in order to suit up when the postseason begins next week.

Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Which player on the list is the most important to his team? Which injured star is expendable in October? How effective can these players be coming off of extended time on the disabled list?

When players return from injury, there is often a bigger impact than on-the-field production. Let’s dive into eight names that could potentially alter October’s landscape.

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While MLB contenders are enjoying the excitement of impending playoff baseball, several big-name players will be sweating over the final week in fear of missing out on the October fun.

Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of well-known players who are in serious danger of being left off the postseason roster. Whether it’s due to the numbers game, injuries or ineffectiveness, there’s an increasing probability that the following names won’t be called upon next month.

Players like Yasiel Puig and Adam Wainwright face a race against time in order to prove that they’re healthy enough to contribute. Meanwhile, Mark Buehrle, Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon are hoping that one final start will be enough to ensure a spot on the postseason roster. And Michael Pineda? His inconsistency since returning from injury could doom his October plans.

As always, let us know what you think in the comments section below. How do you feel about your team potentially leaving these players off the postseason roster? Who else should be worried about his spot? Which of these players do you consider safe?

Success in October is often determined by which teams and players are peaking at the right time. Because of that, the following names must handle postseason roster bubble talk as the season comes to a close.

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For several lucky MLB franchises, the cooler temperatures of September indicate that playoff baseball is right around the corner. On the other hand, the season’s final month can mean something completely different for underachieving teams.

Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of those teams that will be thankful to see the 2015 season come to an end. Despite the disappointment of a lost season, the following squads should feel confident about their chances of breaking out in 2016. 

Although each team on this list has a .500 record or worse, they have vastly different stories.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a young team that’s slowly coming into its own. The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians underachieved in 2015 but have talented enough rosters to return to contention next season. A talented Oakland A’s team was done in by a woeful bullpen, while the Tampa Bay Rays were decimated with injuries. 

Let us know what you think about our choices in the comments section below. How confident are you that these teams will bounce back in 2016? Which contenders will take steps back next year? Which team did we leave off? 

Every season, we witness teams play well down the stretch and carry it over into the next year. Here are five candidates for doing just that in 2016. 

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If the 2015 MLB season has taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate the impact a prospect can make. Young talent in the minor leagues are the stars of tomorrow. It’s important to keep track of their progress and development. 

That’s why over the next few slides, we’ll take a look at some fresh, young talent gracing the minor league baseball scene. The following players may have been drafted just this summer, but they already turned heads in their first professional seasons. 

Some of the guys on this list figured to always make a smooth transition to the minors. Chicago White Sox hurler Carson Fulmer, Boston’s Andrew Benintendi and Milwaukee’s Trent Clark are high draft picks who have had no problems living up to the hype. 

On the flip side, there are also some under-the-radar draftees who performed at a high level. Atlanta’s Austin Riley, Detroit’s Beau Burrows and San Francisco’s Phil Bickford established themselves as legitimate prospects in just a handful of low-level games. 

Who else had a stellar start to his career? Which 2015 draftees have been the most disappointing? Keep the conversation going in the comment section below. 

It’s never too early to analyze prospects. Here is a list of youngsters who are already ahead of the curve. 

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As MLB’s playoff picture begins to come into focus, stars around the game are finding themselves with plenty to prove over the season’s final weeks. Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of big names that figure to be under the microscope.

Why do the names on this list have something to prove? There are a variety of different reasons. 

For Johnny Cueto and Jason Heyward, it’s about improving their free-agent stock before the upcoming winter. For Yasiel Puig, the next few weeks can go a long way toward rehabilitating his plummeting star power. Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera and Joe Mauer can prove that they’re still capable of being key contributors in October. 

Make sure to let your voices be heard in the comments section below. What can the players on this list prove to you over the next few weeks? How confident are you in these stars to make an impact in October? 

In sports, legacies are built and money is made when the lights shine the brightest. How the players on this list perform over the next month will go a long way toward their future perception in the big leagues. 

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Let’s take a break from the monotony of playoff positioning and award watches to look ahead at the upcoming MLB free-agency period. 

The 2015 class is loaded with talent—David Price, Zack Greinke (potentially), Yoenis Cespedes and Jason Heyward, just to name a few—but there are also a handful of under-the-radar sleepers whom teams should target this winter.

Over the next few slides, we’ll identify six sleepers with under-the-radar value in the upcoming free-agent class. With position players like Daniel Murphy, Juan Uribe and Rajai Davis and hurlers like Mike Leake, Mark Buehrle and Brian Matusz, teams don’t have to break the bank in order to improve their squads. 

Where do the players on this list derive their value from? For one, the following names can be had for manageable salaries. Second, each of these players quietly does certain things that enhance his value. For Buehrle, it’s his unmatched consistency, and for Davis, it’s his speed and defensive versatility. 

Let us know what you think of the following choices in the comments section below. Are any of these players a fit for your team? Who else has sneaky value this winter? Which free agents do you want your team to stay away from? 

Finding those hidden gems in free agency is often just as important as inking a high-profile signing. The names on this list may be underrated, but each can have an immediate impact in 2016. 

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Down the stretch we come! Just over two weeks separate MLB contenders from coveted postseason berths.

The finish line may be in sight, but there’s still plenty of time for teams with playoff aspirations to slip up. Over the next few slides, we’ll identify five squads across baseball that are the most likely to play spoiler.

Our selections are based off a combination of two elements: games remaining against contenders (obviously) and how well a potential spoiler has played in recent weeks. The teams on this list may have losing records overall, but each is playing over .500 ball in September.

Seeing as many of the races are still relatively unsettled, most of these spoilers come from the American League. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles will have their say in which team wins the AL East, while the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners can each dictate where teams like the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins finish in the standings.

It’s much more cut-and-dry in the Senior Circuit, although we still need some clarity in the NL Central. That final result will depend on how all three playoff-bound teams deal with the Cincinnati Reds over the final weeks.

Let us know what you think about our spoiler choices. Can these teams really affect playoff races across MLB? Do any of these teams worry you more than others?

We’ve enjoyed a fantastic 2015 MLB season, but it’s not finished yet. Let’s find out which unexpected teams can provide us with a few more twists and turns.

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What a year it’s been for prospects in 2015. Top talents have impressed at every level, including standout performances in the majors.

Now that the minor league season has concluded, we’ve compiled a list of 2015’s best prospect seasons. The following slideshow will take a closer look at Bleacher Report’s 2015 All-Prospect Team.

To be eligible for inclusion, players must still have prospect status and/or have spent all of 2015 in the minor leagues. That means you won’t find players such as Kyle Schwarber, Miguel Sano and Aaron Nola on this list.

However, plenty of impressive talents managed to make the cut. Corey Seager, Blake Snell, Yoan Moncada and Jose Berrios are just a few names we’ll touch on over the following slides.

Make sure to let us know what you think of our list in the comments section below. Do you agree with our selections? If not, who would you have included?

MLB‘s future is bright. By the end of these slides, you’ll have a better idea of which youngsters to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.

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