Fan News

Thank goodness three new members were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. If they hadn't been, the 2015 ballot would have featured as much Cooperstown-worthy talent as Cooperstown itself.

OK, maybe that's an exaggeration. But this isn't: Even after last year's selections, the 2015 ballot might be as loaded as the 2014 ballot.

The dropping of the crystal ball signaled the start of 2015, officially designating the disastrous season of 2014 as last year's news.

When we discuss the Cincinnati Reds from this juncture, we discuss a new product. The Reds lack the potent starting rotation they once had, but they do offer some offensive prowess that many fans have longed for.

With 2015 finally upon us, MLB general managers are in the stretch run of preparations prior to the beginning of spring training. As such, there is an ample amount of buzz and speculation regarding each franchise.

That makes this a fine time to play a round of Fact or Fiction with the latest news.

It is officially the year 2015, and with the holiday season in the rearview mirror, the countdown to spring training, as well as Opening Day, has begun.

The offseason is just over halfway through at this point, and many free agents are off the board. What's more, plenty of trades have been made, making that market a little bit tougher for interested teams as well.

Batman and Robin, Han and Chewie, Butch and Sundance and...Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija. Do those last two names belong?

The Chicago White Sox certainly hope so.

For the Toronto Blue Jays, 2014 was another year of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. Toronto finished the season with an 83-79 record, 13 games out of first place in the American League East and five games out of the second wild-card spot in the AL.

The Detroit Tigers are one of the most star-studded teams in baseball, specifically on offense. From Miguel Cabrera to Victor Martinez to Ian Kinsler to Yoenis Cespedes, there are plenty of high-profile names in the Detroit clubhouse.

A year after signing Marlon Byrd to a two-year contract, the Philadelphia Phillies have dealt the outfielder to the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds confirmed the move via their Twitter account:  

As the world prepares to turn the final calendar page of 2014, it creates a time of reflection. The 2014 calendar year was a busy one for the sport of baseball, and the St. Louis Cardinals are no exception. The top five stories of 2014 give a snapshot of a dynamic time in St. Louis.

The Cardinals have been one of baseball's most successful teams in recent memory. Consistently finding their way to the postseason, developing talent from within the organization and being strong-willed enough to make trades to try and improve the team have all become standard operation for the team.

While James Shields is a very good starter who can handle pitching at the top of a rotation, he's not quite the prize that fellow free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer is. That's why for all the intrigue, guesswork and speculation over where Shields might wind up, everything in that realm is much more compelling when it comes to Scherzer.