Rankings/List

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 2013 Opening Day payroll that is already over $200 million, so it should come as no surprise that their roster is littered with All-Star talent. With 11 players who have previously made at least one appearance in the Midsummer Classic, the Dodgers should lead the National League in All-Stars next season.

2012 was a banner year for rookies. Not only did it mark the arrival of two players with the potential to be generational superstars in Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, it also saw the graduation of other high-level prospects such as Manny Machado, Will Middlebrooks and Matt Harvey.

Although the 2013 season won’t feature anything close to what Harper and Trout did last year, there’s a new wave of elite prospects on the verge of becoming big-league regulars.

In each previous installment of this series, I highlighted both the hottest and coldest pitching prospects in the Caribbean Winter Leagues. However, with so few legitimate arms still active in the Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan leagues, it was impossible to find enough ice-cold prospects to fill out the category.

With the 2013 Hall of Fame announcements just a matter of weeks away, it's easy to look back at all the past players who have been inducted into Cooperstown as they represent the best the game has ever seen and will forever be enshrined in history.

But what about those who don't have a plaque in Cooperstown? There are many players who could arguably be in the Hall of Fame, but for one reason or another they've been left off the final ballots and remain on the outside looking in.

Teams this offseason have been looking to find free agents who are going to hit a bunch of home runs or win a lot of games, when they should be taking a player’s defensive skills into consideration.

Just because a free agent doesn’t have the best on-base or slugging percentage doesn’t mean that they can’t be valuable. And just because a pitcher doesn’t throw 90 miles per hour doesn’t mean that they aren’t worthy of a spot in the starting rotation.

The MLB Hot Stove practically exploded when Zack Greinke signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Josh Hamilton with the Los Angeles Angels, but there are still plenty of rumors for us fans to listen on as the offseason starts to wind down. Speedy outfielder Michael Bourn (pictured) has yet to sign with a team, and a good number of teams are supposedly active on the trade market.

A trio of Twins’ prospects, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario and Oswaldo Arcia, highlight this week’s installment of the hottest and coldest hitters of the Caribbean Winter Leagues.

Is there ever a season where the Oakland Athletics’ farm system isn’t absolutely loaded? Headed into the 2012 season, power-hitting outfielder Michael Choice ranked as the team’s top prospect and was beginning to heat up when a hit-by-pitch resulted in a broken hand after the All-Star break.

Alex Anthopoulos, Paul Beeston and Rogers and Bell Media this offseason have decided now is the time to go all-out and spend the necessary cash to compete in a tough AL East division.

Adding nearly $50 million in payroll this season, the Blue Jays are not only in the discussion for a playoff spot, but some are even pegging the Jays as American League favourites and a possible World Series team.

The Dodgers have been spending big money this offseason, emboldened by the projected revenue of the organization’s next television contract.

Much of the loot has gone toward bolstering the starting rotation, which—despite featuring 2011 Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw—did not quite measure up to San Francisco’s group of five.