Horsehide Chronicles

Major League Baseball has lasted this long without a salary cap, and I wouldn't count on the league implementing one anytime soon. There's a lot of money being pumped into baseball thanks to both national and local television deals, and this money will allow all teams to spend like never before.

But should they? Do ever-increasing payrolls actually make a difference, or does it all end up being wasted money?

Will Justin Upton be traded or won't he be traded? That is the question.

Once the Boston Red Sox figure things out with Mike Napoli—they may need to get the UN involved soon—all the big items on their offseason checklist will have been taken care of.

One of the most surprising developments of the MLB offseason was the Chicago Cubs' pursuit of free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez.

The Cubs' interest didn't result in signing Sanchez and adding him to the top of their starting rotation. But offering a five-year, $77 million contract did make a statement of purpose to the other 29 MLB teams and any players deciding where to take their talents. 

The Texas Rangers find themselves in a tough spot. They're running out of ways to make short-term upgrades, but they don't want to make any moves that would compromise their bright future.

If general manager Jon Daniels is overcome by an urge to shore up the club's short-term future, he's likely to do so with an impact trade rather than an impact free-agent signing. That's partially because the free-agent market now features fewer stars than a found footage movie.

The calendar is just days away from turning to 2013. With that, the book will effectively be closed on the 2012 season as we look ahead toward the year to come in MLB.

But 2012 provided several memorable performances that won't be quickly forgotten.

Obviously, some players were recognized for their achievements with MLB's individual awards, honoring the best hitters and pitchers in each league. Their place in baseball history is assured.

Before a hamstring injury shortened his 2012 season, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was putting up MVP-caliber numbers.

The 27-year-old finished among the National League's top 10 batters in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS this year. Had he not been limited to 132 games, perhaps Gonzalez's home run and RBI numbers would have ranked him among the top in the league as well. 

The Philadelphia Phillies still need an outfielder. The Boston Red Sox could still use another starting pitcher. 

The New York Mets don't have a lot of money to spend this winter. 

Though the team has one to two openings in its outfield, general manager Sandy Alderson hasn't chased a big-name free agent like B.J. Upton or Nick Swisher. Trading for a player like Justin Upton won't happen because the Mets are in the position of acquiring prospects, not dealing them away. 

Somewhere out there, free-agent right-hander Kyle Lohse is waiting for his phone to ring and for Scott Boras to tell him some good news.

He may be waiting a while still, and the news may not end up being as good as he's hoping.