MLB

That sound you just heard was another trade rumor whizzing past your ear like a high, tight four-seamer. Hey, there goes another one. And another.

It's that time of year. The World Series confetti has been swept from the streets of Kansas City; the awards have been awarded. And the hot stove is still crackling to life, spitting more sparks than flames.

So we amuse ourselves with rumors and speculation. What else can you do when staring down three long, frigid months of no baseball?

In Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series, Dave Roberts entered as a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth inning and stole arguably the biggest base in Boston Red Sox history.

You know the rest of the story: Roberts scored the tying run, the Red Sox won in extras, overcame a 3-0 series deficit to vanquish the hated New York Yankees and ultimately busted the Curse of the Bambino.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have found their next manager.

From Zack Greinke to Aroldis Chapman, both the MLB free-agent market and the trade block are stocked with impact arms.

For now, no one knows just where exactly those stars will end up. However, after considering team needs for 2016 and taking into account all the latest buzz, here are some surprise destinations that make sense as potential landing spots.

This MLB offseason has already been a busy one, and we are still a few weeks from the Dec. 7-10 winter meetings, which is when things traditionally heat up around the league.

Three prospects who rank in the top 100 in the league, as rated by MLB.com, have already been on the move in a pair of blockbuster deals.

Without a doubt, Major League Baseball teams hand their players the most ridiculous contracts—in money and length—in all of North American professional sports. 

It is a reason to scoff at cynics who claim baseball is a dying sport, but it is also ammunition for heated debates about just how bad some deals might be, in terms of dollars, duration or both. There are plenty to choose from thanks to owners and front offices willing to pay players greatly for past production while crossing their fingers for some of that production to happen in the future.

The World Series ended three weeks ago. Ever since, it's been all quiet on the baseball front.

Unless, of course, you count all the hot stove chatter.

There's been no shortage of that, as we've reached the point where we have to worry about when the folks at MLB Trade Rumors last slept. The rumors and reports have been coming fast and furious enough to literally (and figuratively) spin your head.

It doesn't take a brilliant baseball mind to sign a free agent like Yoenis Cespedes, Zack Greinke or David Price. While the deals the most well-known commodities sign don't always pay off as hoped, it's not a difficult decision to sign a big-time slugger or shutdown ace.

Although the easiest way for teams to improve their rosters is through free agency, organizations are getting creative with trades to upgrade for 2016 this winter. By trading, teams are able to stay away from long-term deals that can cripple franchises.

But that doesn't mean that working with another team is always the best idea. Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at a handful of offseason trade targets that teams might want to steer clear of. 

The St. Louis Cardinals had many good things going for them in 2015, but power was not one of them. As such, you can't blame them for having eyes on the best power hitter money can buy.

We can, however, offer a few words of warning: Cardinals, my friends, here's where you need to tread very, very carefully.