Opinion

Few events in sports feature as much mystery as the MLB draft, and that won't change in 2016.

The 2016 class has plenty of quality players from both college and high school, but none of them have separated themselves above the rest of the prospects. This could lead to plenty of surprises throughout the 40 rounds—and especially in the first round on Thursday.

Floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, not a bad way to go through life….

1. Mariners Paddle Along with Healthy Cano

Robinson Cano, or, as Derek Jeter always teased him, Robinson Canoe, always did have two things: a great smile and a beautiful swing.

Except, uh, last year, when both disappeared. And Canoe, er, Cano, was left up a creek without a paddle.

Baseball players are human beings, not cyborgs sent from the future to destroy Sarah Connor.

As a result, they get injured—some more seriously than others—and it's that unfortunate reality that is the driving force behind some of the trade ideas we're about to take a look at.

For fans of a Seattle Mariners franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001, doubt is a part of daily life.

The MLB rookie class of 2016 has a lot to live up to.

Last year's class, after all, was historically loaded. Let's just rattle off a list of names to refresh your memory: Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Noah Syndergaard, Joc Pederson, Matt Duffy, Kyle Schwarber, Maikel Franco, Miguel Sano, Jung Ho Kang. Impact players, all.

The AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles have a formula for winning games, and they're sticking to it.

This is thanks in no small part to Mark Trumbo, who just won't stop dropping Trumbombs.

The Miami Marlins' Jose Fernandez twirled seven shutout innings on Sunday in a 1-0 victory over the New York Mets, scattering four hits, no walks and matching a career high with 14 strikeouts.

The proper response? An appreciative nod.

Mother Nature interrupted Sunday's game between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning. The clouds opened, the tarps came out and the two American League Central foes endured a three-hour-plus delay.

These days, however, nothing can rain on the Indians' parade.

We will likely remember the 2016 MLB draft more for its depth than its top-end talent. Plenty of promising prospects in the draft are capable of bolstering a farm system, but there are no can't-miss future stars in the mold of Bryce Harper or Kris Bryant.

With a 12-18 record since the calendar turned to May, the Chicago White Sox are in need of answers.

What they've found instead is James Shields.