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With the MLB winter meetings rapidly approaching, there’s sure to be a flurry of activity on the free-agent market.

That means it’s time to re-rank the top 10 MLB offseason targets as the calendar turns to December. With big names like Brian McCann and Jhonny Peralta already off the board, there’s some reshuffling to be done. 

In determining where all the stars land on the list, it’s not just a matter of predicting future production, but also considering where a given player fits into the larger free-agent landscape. Quite simply, certain positions are flush with talent, while others are incredibly thin.

With these considerations in mind, here’s a re-ranking of the top 10 MLB offseason targets heading into December.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Even though it is still early in the offseason, there have already been a few MLB teams that have taken big steps forward for the 2014 season.

Some franchises have looked to the trade market to fill a pressing need, while others have been able to pick up impact free agents.

There is still a lot of time left this winter, and there are many big-name players on the market. Thus far, there are some clear early winners of the 2014 MLB offseason.

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Most of the top-tier free agents remain unsigned roughly a month after the frenzy began, but several deals have been struck. Some of them look like good signings and some of them…do not. Here are the early winners and losers of the offseason.

Winners

Cardinals: The rich get richer, at least on paper. The Redbirds improved at two up-the-middle positions, signing free agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta and trading for center fielder Peter Bourjos. Peralta is a huge upgrade at short, and though some were surprised to see him get four years and $52M coming off a PED suspension, the annual average salary is still team-friendly, and he didn’t cost a draft pick because the Tigers didn’t make him a qualifying offer.

Acquiring Bourjos for David Freese allows the Cards to move Matt Carpenter to third base and turn over second base to Kolten Wong, improving the infield while saving money. Bourjos could platoon with Jon Jay in center field or perhaps relegate Jay to fourth-outfielder duties. With Matt Holliday, Bourjos, Jay and Allen Craig as their four outfielders, there’s no need to rush super-prospect Oscar Taveras up to the majors if he starts slowly in the minors.

Yankees: The Yanks have made only one move so far, but signing All-Star catcher Brian McCann was a big one. They got him for five years and $85M, with a vesting option for a sixth year. McCann will turn 30 in February, so there could be some dead years on the back end, but for now the Yanks acquired one of the best players in the game at the position—one, by the way, that was a black hole for them in 2013.

The Yankees still have work to do. They’re interested in free agent outfielder/DH types like Carlos Beltran and Curtis Granderson, and they probably need a backup plan at third base in case Alex Rodriguez‘s suspension is upheld. And of course, their negotiations with second baseman Robinson Cano loom. For now, though, McCann is an excellent start.

Losers

Phillies: The Phils have made two moves of note, signing both Carlos Ruiz and Marlon Byrd to multiyear deals at modest annual average salaries. The problem isn’t the terms of the contracts but rather that both guys are old and could have pretty low floors if their production falls off a cliff. The Phillies could eat either contract in that case but will have already wasted time and money if it comes to that.

With that in mind, these deals seem to indicate a lack of organizational direction. Are they win-now moves? Stopgap moves? A little bit of both, perhaps.

Giants: The Giants have been one of the most active teams so far this offseason. While none of their moves looks terrible in a vacuum, the question is whether their cumulative impact is enough to allow the Giants to threaten the Dodgers in the NL West. Simply put, I don’t think so.

The Giants had something of a worst-case-scenario season in 2013, so some rebound is expected. But bringing back Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum, Javier Lopez and Ryan Vogelsong doesn’t improve the team much—nor does it address gaping offensive holes at shortstop, left field and center field. The addition of Tim Hudson to the rotation helps, but at this point in his career he’s a No. 3 or 4 starter.

It’s too soon to write off the Giants’ offseason entirely for obvious reasons, but they need to make at least one big move if not two, and that may be tough considering they’ve spent a lot of money already. Otherwise, it looks to me that they’re trotting out a team similar to last year’s, and I just don’t think counting on rebounds from guys like Matt Cain will be enough to close the gap with the Dodgers.

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Expect the MLB offseason market action to pick up following Thanksgiving weekend and heading into the winter meetings from Dec. 9-12. There has already been a few notable signings, like Brian McCann and Jason Vargas, but virtually all of the top free agents are still available on the market.

Here’s a look at the latest news and rumors concerning three of the top hitters looking for new deals this winter.

Robinson Cano, 2B

Since September, Robinson Cano and his negotiating team had reportedly been holding firm to their asking price of more than $300 million over a 10-year contract.

But according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Cano and the Yankees met on Tuesday to discuss a new deal:

While it doesn’t sound like a new contract is imminent, Feinsand also reported the two sides will meet again shortly:

The Yankees have been a favorite to retain Cano all offseason long, and it’s still looking that way. But it’s encouraging that Cano’s camp has been able to realize its outlandish expectations and lower its asking price, no matter how small.

Even though the Yankees have already inked McCann to a five-year deal that could reach $100 million with incentives, sources have told Feinsand it “doesn’t impact Cano” even as the team tries to get under the $189 million luxury-tax salary-cap figure.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF

Could Shin-Soo Choo be headed back to the Cleveland Indians?

Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 radio in Cleveland recently cited sources who said Choo would be interested in rejoining the Indians:

Choo played in Cleveland from 2006-12 and established himself as an everyday force in the lineup by the 2008 season. But the two parted ways for 2013, as Choo became one of baseball’s top leadoff hitters with the Cincinnati Reds (.285/.423/.462 slash line, 21 home runs, 54 RBI) and the Indians made a magical run to claim an AL wild-card spot.

It would be interesting to see where Choo would fit in Cleveland’s lineup. Michael Bourn is about to start a four-year, $48 million contract, and he spent last year as the team’s leadoff hitter and center fielder, the two spots Choo held in Cincinnati.

Choo, 31, might be better served to play one of the corner outfield spots, where he would be an upgrade over Michael Brantley and/or Drew Stubbs, who are both arbitration eligible this winter.

With Scott Boras as his agent, Choo is due for a big raise. Earlier this offseason, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said the team would be aggressive after annual revenues were up 20 percent, so it will be interesting to see if there will be a Choo-Cleveland reunion.

Mike Napoli, 1B

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports recently painted a dim picture on the recent pursuits made by the Seattle Mariners in free agency.

In a report that characterized the team as “desperate,” Rosenthal cited Seattle sources who said the team is interested in signing first baseman Mike Napoli to a free-agent deal, and that it might take extra money to lure him to the Pacific Northwest.

The Mariners reportedly had interest in Napoli as a free agent last year, per Bob Dutton of The News Tribune, but backed off over injury concerns. Now that Napoli has made the switch from catcher to first base and is fully healthy, he could be counted on to bring some power to an offense that desperately needs it.

Seattle’s top two sluggers from a year ago, Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez, are both free agents, so the team could use a power bat like Napoli‘s. Rosenthal said the Mariners are also interested in other big names available like Choo, Nelson Cruz and Jacoby Ellsbury.

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The 2014 MLB free-agency market is heating up, and no move sparked more controversy this week than Jhonny Peralta’s $53 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now, the big question is just how lucrative of a contract Nelson Cruz will land. According to the rumbling on the trade market, however, Peralta and Cruz won’t be the only Biogenesis-linked players on the move this offseason.

Here are all the latest rumors from the trade block and the free-agent front with a look at which ones are fact and which ones are fiction.

Note: All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

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Free agency is finally starting to get exciting, and there are even more MLB rumors surrounding the top names on the market now that other players have signed on with new teams.

The New York Yankees made the first big splash in free agency this past weekend, inking catcher Brian McCann to a five-year deal with an option for a sixth year. A sixth year would bring the deal to $100 million.

A few pitchers have been signed as well. Tim Hudson inked a two-year pact with the San Francisco Giants, and the San Diego Padres were able to agree to a team-friendly one-year deal with Josh Johnson.

There are still a bevy of quality free agents available, and the rumors continue to swirl as we head into the holiday season.

Robinson Cano

The top free agent on the market, Robinson Cano still hasn’t made much progress on securing a hefty contract this winter.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweeted that Cano met with New York Yankees representatives on Tuesday but that the gap between the two sides is “still very substantial.”

Wallace Matthews of ESPN.com reminds us that the Yankees have a seven-year, $160 million deal out there for him, but that he is seeking $310 million. For those non-math people, that’s a difference of $150 million.

Matthews did tweet that there was some movement between the two sides in a recent meeting, though no information regarding the alleged movement was disclosed.

With such a large gap between the two sides, it doesn’t appear as if a deal will be happening any time soon. That being said, Feinsand tweeted that the two sides are still in contact and plan to meet again after the holiday weekend.

There don’t appear to be many teams outside of the Yankees with the funds to lock up Cano, though Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post opines that the Washington Nationals should make a run at the second baseman.

Cano would be a clear upgrade to Danny Espinosa, though Espinosa is still under contract and probably isn’t that valuable to other teams.

For now, Cano’s best bet is getting a grip on reality and lowering his demands.

Justin Morneau

Justin Morneau finished last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and helped them make the playoffs for the first time in what seemed like forever.

The first baseman is one of the better value players available on the market. He can still provide 20-plus home run power with a decent on-base percentage, and it won’t take an average annual value (AAV) of more than $15 million to sign him.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Colorado Rockies are “aggressively pursuing” Morneau, and he’d be a perfect replacement for the recently retired Todd Helton. Assuming he stays healthy in the field, Morneau would thrive in Colorado.

After hitting 17 homers last season with the Minnesota Twins and Pirates, Morneau would likely see a boost playing in the thin air of Colorado.

No figures have been floated around just yet, but he could probably be had for a three-year, $36 million contract. Signing him for anything longer or more expensive would be a huge risk.

Carlos Beltran

The Yankees have made Carlos Beltran their top priority after signing McCann, reports CBS New York, but there are multiple teams in the mix to acquire the corner outfielder.

Primera Hora’s Noel Pineiro broke the news that the Cincinnati Reds are now in the mix of teams that want to acquire Beltran (English link from C. Trent Rosecrans of cincinnati.com), and Rosecrans reminds us that the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Yankees are the other teams currently interested.

The Reds represent an interesting fit for Beltran. Sure, they’ll have an opening with Shin-Soo Choo more than likely signing elsewhere, but Beltran seems best suited for an American League team at this point in his career.

No longer should he be a full-time outfielder—even in a corner spot. A team with the flexibility to offer him part-time DH duties represents the best fit for his career.

The Yankees and Rangers could presumably offer that.

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The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers have each filled major voids for left-handed power hitters for the middle of their respective lineups, while the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t waste time upgrading at the shortstop position. Out west, the Los Angeles Dodgers filled out the hole in the back of their rotation while the Angels picked up a former World Series MVP to man the hot corner. 

It’s been much busier than normal prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, but there are plenty of holes still left to fill for teams and a lot of free agents who can fill them. 

Here are eight of the more notable roster weaknesses that could be strengthened in free agency.

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The Boston Red Sox outfield could be in for a number of changes in 2014 in the wake of what could transpire this offseason.

Already well documented is the potential departure of veteran center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury via free agency. Shortstop Stephen Drew and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia are also free agents.

Ellsbury, who has served the Red Sox since 2007, is certain to command a lofty contract next year—a number higher than the $9 million he made in 2013.

In a way, Ellsbury‘s situation in Boston shall directly influence and dictate what transpires in the Red Sox’s offseason prospectus in the outfield. There is a possibility that he stays in Boston. There is also a strong likelihood that he walks, opening the door for other scenarios.

Staying put may be one of Ellsbury‘s best options, per Jim Bowden of ESPNBoston.com.

The article suggests that Boston will not give Ellsbury a long-term contract, yet the team does view him as their No. 1 offseason priority.

This scenario is further backed up by Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, who states the Red Sox are still keeping an open dialogue with Ellsbury‘s agent Scott Boras.

Sure, keeping Ellsbury would be a nice move by general manager Ben Cherington. He is a tremendous asset without doubt. Yet the question remains whether or not the Red Sox can get him at the right cost and contract length.

Let us assume that the two parties are unable to come to terms this offseason and Ellsbury signs elsewhere.

The initial thought that would probably best suit Boston is to give the starting center field job to top prospect Jackie Bradley Jr.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino made a statement to WEEI.com via Chris Towers of CBS Sports regarding Bradley’s long-term potential in Boston:

Bradley, taking you back a few months as to the views of him by experienced baseball people, he’s going to have a long and productive career.  I feel very confident about them, as confident as you can be with someone at that age and stage.

Bradley hit only .189 with three home runs and 10 RBI in limited action in 2013. While the numbers are not particularly inspiring, it is clear from Lucchino‘s statements that the Red Sox are pinning high hopes on their young talent.

Bowden also makes the argument that Boston should pursue free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran if Ellsbury walks. Beltran would be an upgrade in left field—assuming that is where he would play if signed—but how likely is this possibility?

This likelihood is broken down by Ricky Doyle of NESN.com. He writes:

In a vacuum, Beltran would look good in a Sox uniform.  While he’s no young pup—he’ll be 37 in April—he still has power, which is at a premium these days, and he’s a proven playoff performer with a competitive edge.  Teams can’t win solely on the latter, but the 2013 Red Sox showed that there’s some value to having a cohesive team comprised of high-character players.

Doyle also describes that Beltran could potentially be a liability from a defensive standpoint, and his signing would shake things up in Boston’s lineup.

The idea of Beltran in the outfield isn’t too compelling either, per Doyle:

In all likelihood, Beltran would play left field if he signed with the Red Sox, as right field at Fenway Park is no place for someone with diminished defensive tools, particularly range.  Beltran playing left field would obviously have implications for Daniel Nava, Jonny Gomes and Mike Carp, who would all be jockeying for playing time in some capacity. Bradley would likely serve as the Red Sox’ center fielder, as signing Beltran could accompany the end of Ellsbury’s tenure in Boston.

There are too many factors at stake here for Boston to take a gamble on Beltran.  While he would be an asset at the plate, the Red Sox would have to consider his age, defensive liability and contractual obligations. 

In short, they are best suited looking elsewhere.

Another interesting potential target is Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, whom the Red Sox were reported to have interest in per Cafardo.

When healthy, Kemp is a tremendous player—his 162 game career averages are .293 with 26 homers and 94 RBI with an .844 on-base percentage.

Yet Kemp is in the midst of an eight-year, $160 million contract. The Dodgers would certainly have to eat some of that contract if they moved Kemp, but Cafardo reports they have not shopped Kemp despite interest from other teams.

As such, this deal is probably slated as a rumor at best.

The most likely scenario is Boston giving Bradley a starting job in the wake of Ellsbury‘s departure.  Nava, Gomes and Carp (pending free agency) will compete for playing time.

What about shortstop Stephen Drew?

Despite reports that stated Drew’s time in Boston was over, Cherington made it clear that the Red Sox were interested in having him back, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe.

“That’s not something I’ve been told,” Cherington said regarding Drew’s departure. “We’re still talking with him and we’d like to have him back. We’ll see what happens.”

Abraham points out that Drew signing with another team could cost a first-round pick given the Red Sox offered him a qualifying offer. That, in turn, could dampen the market, even though reports state that Drew’s agent Scott Boras has been pushing him elsewhere.

Drew could still return, and Cherington has indicated they would like him back.

Yet a better scenario could be this: Part ways with Drew, especially if the contract is too much. Give the young and talented Xander Bogaerts a shot at playing every day at shortstop. Either Will Middlebrooks or an addition like veteran Michael Young could fill the third baseman job.

Young could be an interesting addition given the interest, per Derek Stykalo of Fansided.com.

If Boston were able to sign Young, the team could potentially take some pressure off of both Bogaerts and Middlebrooks to perform at high levels in 2014.

Are there any options like this available at catcher? That is a more difficult question to answer.

Saltalamacchia, the incumbent catcher who lost considerable playing time to David Ross in the postseason, is set to be a free agent and is drawing considerable interest from other teams, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

The Red Sox have made Saltalamacchia a qualifying offer and would clearly entertain his return. Yet what happens if he leaves?

Previously, Boston could have pursued other veteran options like Carlos Ruiz or Brian McCann. Now, Ruiz has re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and McCann with the New York Yankees. These deals have thinned the market and could potentially force the Red Sox’s hand.

According to R.J. White of CBS Sports, Boston is interested in former Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro as a fallback option, while Stykalo reports that the Red Sox have interest in A.J. Pierzynski.

If Saltalamacchia walks, expect Boston to be quick in signing a new backstop. The market here is relatively thin and the Red Sox have the chips to make a quick short-term deal.

Like many championship teams, the Red Sox are in a precarious position to retain some of their talented veterans. It will be difficult for them to get all of them back in free agency.

As such, expect Boston to pursue additional options this offseason. Some, or all, of the aforementioned players could leave which forces the Red Sox to be more active on the free agent market.  Yet the biggest deals are not always the best ones. 

Only time will tell which avenues Cherington and the Red Sox pursue.

All records, statistics and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Spotrac.com.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the Boston Red Sox. Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

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Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings are still weeks away, but that hasn’t stopped major free-agent and trade activity from already shaping the landscape of the offseason.

From the blockbuster that saw Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler switch addresses, to Brian McCann’s arrival in New York, to Jhonny Peralta’s move to St. Louis, to Alex Rodriguez challenging everyone in MLB‘s Park Avenue office, the hot stove has been lit throughout the month of November.

Of course, no roster is complete before Thanksgiving. Over the next few months, the free-agent market will dissipate, franchise-changing trades will commence and the 2014 World Series champion will be formed through the hard work of executives and scouts. 

Here are the teams with the most work left to do during this busy winter season.

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When one part of a team has struggled for years, it’s expected that the general manager would go out and try to upgrade that area.

Surprisingly, San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean has different ideas.

San Francisco is known for its stellar pitching staff and poor offense. Its pitching staff wasn’t the same in 2013, but in years past, it has been outstanding. However, it suffered a season-long slump in 2013, and the 21st-ranked offense, notorious for its struggles, couldn’t pick it up.

As you would expect, the Giants were far from making the playoffs. They finished 76-86.

It might seem like the pitching staff, which had a horrid 4.37 ERA, was a major issue as well. However, it’s evident that starters Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum will be better in 2014. Once the Giants re-signed Lincecum, it would have made sense to look for starting pitchers but also focus on the offense.

Instead, the Giants have only focused on the pitching staff.

After the season ended, Sabean negotiated with, and signed, Lincecum for two more years. Seeing that the Giants only had two starters (and a potential fifth starter in Yusmeiro Petit) set in their 2014 rotation, that deal made sense.

The agreement with Tim Hudson, a durable, reliable former ace who will stabilize San Francisco’s rotation, also made sense. Hudson came for $23 million over two years, which is good value in this day and age.

Now, the Giants have a solid rotation. Most teams would feel confident with Bumgarner, Cain, Hudson and Lincecum, all of whom have been the undisputed ace of a pitching staff at some point in their careers, as the top four hurlers in the pitching staff. And most teams would then go fill another need before filling out the rotation.

Not the Giants.

The Giants apparently didn’t learn from 2013, when offensive starters Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco, among others, turned in horrendous offensive performances. The Giants were expected to pursue left fielders on the free-agent market or on the trade block, but they haven’t and likely won’t.

Instead, according to Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury, the Giants are still looking to sign pitchers.

According to Mark Sheldon, the Giants are interested in Bronson Arroyo, an older pitcher who wants a short-term deal. That fits the Giants’ criteria, so they are interested.

However, in pursuing a fifth starter to fill out the rotation, the Giants are neglecting to improve the offense, the aspect they desperately need to improve. And, if they do sign a solid pitcher, they wouldn’t have the cash to sign a bat.

In this year’s NL, that won’t cut it. No team has won with a below-average offense since 2003, when the Florida Marlins finished barely below the average. Recently, World Series winners have been offensive juggernauts, and you can’t win the World Series with an offense in the bottom 10.

Sure, the Giants won the World Series with some great pitchers. But having a solid rotation just won’t cut it anymore. In fact, the Giants needed the 12th-best offense, one that averaged more than 4.3 runs per game in the playoffs, to win the 2012 World Series.

But the current offense just isn‘t that good. It needs significant improvement, but Sabean is clinging to the past and refusing to fix its glaring holes.

If the pitchers hit a skid, the team will suffer a severe slump. With the rival Los Angeles Dodgers likely to reach the 90-win plateau annually, the Giants can’t go through those swoons anymore.

In 2010, the Giants were dismal in August, and in 2012, they hit a swoon in late July. Luckily for them, the second-place San Diego Padres weren’t dominant in 2010, and in 2012, the star-laden Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have enough time to mesh. Consequently, the Giants escaped with NL West titles both years.

But now, Los Angeles is a bona fide juggernaut. It has meshed and has seen a playoff run, and it will continue to compete every year. The Giants simply can’t compete by trusting a good pitching staff; they need to score.

The Giants don’t have the money to sign a top target like Jacoby Ellsbury or Shin Soo-Choo, but they can sign a high-reward, cheap option. Corey Hart could fill that role and provide much-needed pop. He has an injury history and might not be graceful in left field, but he is competent defensively and offers a lot on offense.

If the Giants want a cheap, high-reward option, Hart would be a good fit. If they want to dish out more cash, they could sign Nelson Cruz, whose contract could be reasonable because of his PED suspension. Cruz, who has posted a slugging percentage better than .500 in five of his last six years, would provide power and be a perfect offensive fit.

Even if the Giants don’t sign a hitter, they can trade for one. Or, they could trade Pablo Sandoval.

At first, it doesn’t seem to make sense that the Giants would trade one of their best hitters to improve their offense. However, it makes more sense if you dig deeper.

They would have to risk an uprising in San Francisco, but it might be for the best. Sandoval is entering the final year of his contract, and patience is wearing thin with the third baseman. He is constantly out of shape, and, quite frankly, is overrated.

But because of his three-homer game in the World Series, Sandoval is known as a clutch hitter who, when on, is one of the best in the game. That means his trade value is high, and that means the Giants could get a good deal for him.

If they were to trade for a good long-term option in left field, like Alex Gordon, they could insert Joaquin Arias at third base and wait for third-base prospect Adam Duvall to come up. Arias isn’t a flashy option, but he is much more competent than Blanco (who would start in left field if the Giants get no one else) and having a solid left fielder long term would definitely trump having Sandoval short term.

The possibility of a deal makes sense for the Giants, but, unfortunately for the team, it won’t happen. The possibility of dealing a prospect for a big bat also makes sense, as the Giants have a wealth of quality arms in the farm and can afford to lose one.

However, as we all know, Sabean has tried that before. He traded Zack Wheeler for Carlos Beltran in 2011, and that didn‘t pay off. So, the conservative general manager likely won’t make any kind of big trade.

In other words, the Giants won’t make a huge splash this offseason.

The Giants won titles with pitching, but this scenario is different. The Dodgers are a great team, and if the Giants don’t make a big deal, they aren’t going to contend. 2013 was supposed to teach that to Sabean, but apparently, it hasn’t.

And because of that, the Giants will likely fill out a strong pitching staff and bullpen but leave the offense the same. Consequently, the team likely will be good but have a difficult time bringing home another World Series trophy.

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