NL West

The 2013 San Francisco Giants consisted of essentially the same team that won the World Series in 2012. They had the same pitching rotation and starting lineup (sans Melky Cabrera).

Yet, the 2013 Giants proved they were an entirely different team from that of 2012, despite having largely the same players. They won 76 games, finishing 21st in runs scored and 22nd in ERA. So why, a year removed from 94 wins and a World Series title, did the Giants finish third in the NL West? What made the difference? 

The San Francisco Giants have been one of the most active teams since the 2013 season ended. GM Brian Sabean has aggressively moved to restock the Giants roster, bringing back several familiar faces and adding two new free agents.

Third baseman Juan Uribe is reportedly headed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a two-year deal after testing free agency.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal was the first to break the news:

MLB’s winter meetings in Orlando have reached their conclusion, but plenty of deals still have yet to be made in the baseball world. On the final day of the meetings, the San Francisco Giants made the biggest deal of the day, signing outfielder Michael Morse.

Outfield prospect Brandon Jacobs is reportedly one of the mystery names involved in a blockbuster three-team deal involving Mark Trumbo between the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angles and Chicago White Sox.

Per Arizona's Twitter account, the Diamondbacks acquired Trumbo and two unannounced players in the transaction:

The Arizona Diamondbacks finally acquired the slugger that the team coveted, completing a deal for Mark Trumbo, a rumor that Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal had first reported yesterday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks want to protect slugger Paul Goldschmidt, but trading for Mark Trumbo is not the answer.

The most common thought of the week—I know because I've said it, wrote it, texted it and tweeted it myself—is how there won't be much left for teams to do at next week's winter meetings because everything has already happened.

The Los Angeles Dodgers might be big spenders, but they haven't made any major signings so far this offseason.