Opinion

There was a time, not all that long ago, when the best team in baseball wouldn't commit anything more than a three-year contract to a starting pitcher. The Toronto Blue Jays lost some pitchers in the early 1990s, but they won back-to-back World Series.

Imagine trying to do that now.

Good things come to those who wait. When it comes to cashing in their trade assets, that should be the New York Yankees' guiding dogma.

There is roughly one month remaining before pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training, but there are still a number of impact options on the free-agent market.

Justin Upton finally found a new home earlier this week when he signed with the Detroit Tigers, but guys like Yoenis Cespedes, Dexter Fowler, Ian Desmond, Yovani Gallardo and Tyler Clippard remain unsigned.

Where those remaining free agents wind up landing can still change the complexion of the offseason heading into spring training.

In Chicago, Starlin Castro was a victim of circumstance. Now, after being traded to the New York Yankees, the shortstop-turned-second baseman should be its beneficiary.

One month before pitchers and catchers report, we've still got several things to settle…

1. What's Up with Cespedes?

While Justin Upton has surfaced, it seems Yoenis Cespedes is stuck somewhere on Mars with Matt Damon. Golfing, maybe.

What gives?

Not sure if you heard, St. Louis Cardinals fans, but Jason Heyward skipped town. Worse still, he's a Chicago Cub now.

OK, sorry. Our purpose here isn't to rub salt in that particular, still-festering wound. Quite the contrary, actually—we come bearing glad tidings for the Redbird faithful. 

At the end of 2016, Hub fans will finally bid adieu to Big Papi. And also, welcome his heir.

In the 1996 sports comedy Space Jam—still easily the best movie ever to feature Porky Pig and Patrick Ewing—a group of aliens led by Danny DeVito steals the powers of various NBA players to construct a hybrid dream team.

That's our purpose here, sort of. Except instead of using basketball greats, we'll be sapping strengths from MLB pitchers. And DeVito isn't involved. 

The Detroit Tigers entered the offseason with a handful of expensive long-term contracts already in hand, and they have since added two more amid a flurry of offseason moves that has overhauled their roster.

As such, it's a little strange we can only look at them as a team with a fighting chance rather than as, you know, a favorite.