MLB

The San Diego Padres are reportedly looking to trade starting pitcher James Shields just one season after signing him to a major free-agent contract.

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Washington Nationals infielder Yunel Escobar is reportedly on the trade block as front offices begin preparing their plans for the 2015 winter meetings.  

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The Chicago White Sox continued to make moves to improve their production behind the plate Thursday by signing veteran catcher Dioner Navarro to a one-year deal in free agency. 

Like chocolate and peanut butter, baseball and music have always fit together well. Whether the inspiration for songwriters or the fuel that fires up a player as he steps into the box, the mutually beneficial relationship they share is timeless.

So it's only fitting that the baseball universe will be descending on Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—for its annual winter meetings, which officially begin Monday, Dec. 7. Owners, general managers, agents, scouts, pundits and players will gather to conduct business, some more urgent than others.

What a difference a year makes. 

At the end of the 2014 season, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was coming off a fantastic campaign and was widely considered one of the top young players in MLB.

Coming off a last-place finish last season, their third in the last four years, and armed with a new leader in the front office, next week’s winter meetings figured to be a playground for the money- and prospect-rich Boston Red Sox. 

David Price's path began in Tampa Bay, and it has since passed through Detroit and Toronto. Along the way, he's made five All-Star teams, won a Cy Young and has been generally awesome.

The winter meetings are set to kick off on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, and with the market set for pitching and no shortage of trade rumors swirling around, the MLB world could be in four a busy four days.

Heck, it's already been a busy offseason, and the calendar just turned over to December.

Two of the marquee free agents on the pitching side of things have already signed, as Jordan Zimmermann agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal with the Detroit Tigers and David Price inked a record seven-year, $217 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

David Price just became the highest-paid pitcher (by average annual value) in baseball history. Zack Greinke is about to join him in that stratosphere.

Jeff Samardzija isn't in line for that type of $30 million-plus-per-season payday. But he might already have received an offer north of $100 million, per ESPN's Jayson Stark:

Free-agent MLB outfielder Dexter Fowler last played for the Chicago Cubs but could reportedly flee to the team that defeated them in the postseason.

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Report: New York Mets Considering Fowler for Outfield

Wednesday, Dec. 2

ESPN insider Buster Olney provided the buzz on Fowler, but indicated the Mets are placing a higher open-market priority on Kansas City Royals second baseman Ben Zobrist.