Opinion

1. On Closers

This week is notable for two seemingly disparate yet related closer items.

The New York Mets are in an enviable position as the free-agent market opens because they may be the one team in baseball that really doesn't need David Price or Zack Greinke.

Too bad the market doesn't also offer them what they do need.

The Major League Baseball hot stove is percolating, as general managers from all 30 teams have been in Florida this week for their annual meetings before the winter meetings take place in December. 

Free agency will draw the most interest from fans, which is easy to understand with names like David Price, Zack Greinke, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon seeking new contracts. 

While the Kansas City Royals are still basking in the glow of their first world championship in 30 years, Major League Baseball will put an official bow on the 2015 season on Nov. 19 with the announcement of the American League and National League Most Valuable Player. 

On Tuesday night, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the three finalists in each league who will compete for the prestigious honor.

Euphoria eventually wears off. It fades like a glorious fog that can be thick enough to mask a flawed landscape within.

That is not to say everything is bad once things clear up. Things might still be attractive to certain onlookers, just not as wonderful as the oasis that once existed.

When the Chicago Cubs hired Joe Maddon last winter, Theo Epstein called it a "unique opportunity" the team just couldn't pass up.

The 2015 Gold Glove award winners were announced on Tuesday night, and as always, there were a few surprises among the 18 players who will be adding awards to their trophy rooms.

The Kansas City Royals had three winners—Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar—which was no surprise given that defense played a major role en route to a World Series title.

Starting pitching was the least of the St. Louis Cardinals' problems in 2015. Even despite losing Adam Wainwright for the bulk of the year, the Cardinals rotation still racked up an MLB-best 2.99 ERA.

If St. Louis is going to keep that vibe going into 2016, however, it has some work to do.

So, you're the Washington Nationals, you've hired a new manager and a new pitching coach, and you're probably saying farewell to free-agent starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister.

Next question: What's the expiration date for Stephen Strasburg?

The window to win almost always closes quicker than you think it will, and it will close on the Kansas City Royals soon enough.

Just not yet.

The Royals pushed into win-now mode when they made their much-debated (at the time) trade for James Shields and Wade Davis three winters ago. They pushed all-in when they traded prospects for a pair of rental players this past July.