MLB

Offense puts fans in the seats, but pitching wins championships.

As we've seen in recent years, that statement is all too true.

And it's not specific to starting pitching, either, as the San Francisco Giants can attest.

March is an important month for baseball fans. Not only does it signal the beginning of the exhibition season—and draw us ever closer to Opening Day—but every four years, it provides us the opportunity to see the best players in the world compete in a 16-team tournament, the World Baseball Classic.

The rich get richer. The good get better. It doesn't always work that way, but sometimes it does.

Just ask the Chicago Cubs.

One year after winning their first World Series since the debut of the Model T Ford, the Cubs are positioned for another deep postseason run.

The New York Mets have a logjam in the outfield and could try to solve it by dealing away Jay Bruce.

Continue for updates.

In an effort to lower their payroll heading into 2017, the Detroit Tigers are reportedly willing to trade second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Continue for updates.

When the San Diego Padres acquired Wil Myers in December 2014, he was a talented, injury-prone enigma. Two years and change later, he has a chance to be a franchise cornerstone.

On Friday, Myers and the Padres agreed to a six-year extension worth "more than $80 million," per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. 

Looking to get a fresh start on his career, starting pitcher Tyson Ross has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers. 

Let's pretend for a second that every player in Major League Baseball was placed on the trade block.

Ignoring things like team need and franchise direction, who would be the most valuable trade chips in the game in this hypothetical situation?

That's what we've set out to determine in the following article.

Ahead you'll find the top 25 future trade assets based on that hypothetical situation, but before we dive into that list, a few ground rules:

Few positions in baseball have seen as big an influx of high-upside young talent in recent years than shortstop. From Carlos Correa to Francisco Lindor to Corey Seager, the position is well-stocked with young stars who are poised to dominate the game for years to come.

Believe it or not, but the pipeline is far from dry, as some young shortstops are poised to make their impact felt at some point during the 2017 season. Of course, the veterans who stand in their way will have something to say about that, as they're not going to give up their everyday jobs willingly.

There are things the 2017 MLB season can be counted on to deliver. Mike Trout will make highlights. Giancarlo Stanton's bat will make loud noises. Bartolo Colon will make assorted GIFs.

But if you're counting on some intense division races, we need to talk.