MLB Trade Rumors

The big signings have been completed by White Sox GM Kenny Williams during the Winter Meetings.  Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski are safely in the fold, and Adam Dunn is looking for some Chi-town digs.

Now the wheeling and dealing can begin.

I don't think Williams is anywhere near finished trying to improve this team.  Right now payroll could be in the $125 million range next year, or even a few dollars more.  I don't think Williams wants to spend quite that much.

The New York Mets made it abundantly clear that they were not going to be major contenders in the high-profile free agent sweepstakes this week in Florida, so the fact that they signed D.J. Carrasco shouldn't really surprise anybody.

Patience was the name of the game in Buena Vista for Sandy Alderson, and while not a spectacular move by any stretch of the imagination, the move to snag Carrasco looks to be pretty solid.

A season of torturous happiness and excitement was capped off when Aubrey Huff Zoolandered his famed rally thong in front of thousands of overjoyed Giants fans on the steps of City Hall.

As the realization set in, and the splurging on championship gear began for fans, the organization was quickly back to work. At hand was a task completely foreign to San Francisco -- how to defend a championship. 

The MLB offseason is already in full swing, and many top free agents have already been taken off the board.

So who's left? And what players might be available for teams that don't have the pocket change to go out and sign a free agent?

Begin the slideshow to see the top five players available to sign or trade for at each position.

Begin Slideshow

With the MLB Hot Stove season heating up at this week's winter meetings, some things are starting to take shape.

The Nationals shocked the baseball world by giving Jayson Werth $126 million. Big names have already been traded and more are sure to come.

Here is a list of 20 players, a mixture of free agents and guys who could potentially be traded, that can make an impact on the 2011 MLB regular season and into the postseason.

The Florida Marlins might be at it again, this time with a possible trade of Ricky Nolasco and Leo Nunez. 

According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are "gauging interest" in starting pitcher Nolasco and closer Leo Nunez.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.—The new Cliff Lee rumors indicate that there are two teams that have made seven-year offers for the left-handed pitcher.

The New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels have all denied they are one of the teams.

Roger Clemens' widely anticipated perjury trial has been delayed until July, as the judge granted the defense more time to review the mountains of evidence presented by the prosecution. 

Federal investigators reportedly said that the case has generated over 54,000 pages of evidence, and Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said his team needs more time to review the evidence and have the scientific evidence analyzed by a forensics expert. 

Carlos Pena, one of the better power bats still on the market, signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to a report on ESPN.com. 

Pena hit 28 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, but had an anemic .196 average and struck out 158 times in 484 at-bats.

Cliff Lee is easily the most coveted free agent pitcher on the market this season, but the dominant left seems to have whittled his choices down to just three: the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and most recently, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 

According to reports, the Angels, who are also in the running for big name free agent outfielder Carl Crawford, have apparently been courting Lee, although they have yet to make an offer to sign the pitcher.