In the offseason, much is made of the comings and goings of established major league players in free agency.

But many often overlook the same thing happening in the minor leagues.

In the "Recapping Minor League Free Agent Losses" series, I'll be looking at what, if anything, each team is losing at the minor league levels.

I'm not going to bother covering every player, because not all of them are very important and I have little to say about many of them. I'll just be touching on those who I think could be of value to another team in free agency.

The offseason is always filled with numerous trades and free agent signings.

But with each deal that's made, players' fantasy stocks increase, some decrease, and others stay the same with their new team.

This offseason was no different.

In fact, more major moves happened this year than in recent years.

We all know about Seattle's signing of Chone Figgins. The three-team deal involving Curtis Granderson and of course the four-team megadeal that had Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee changing addresses.

When a friend told me this morning that Melky Cabrera had been traded, I was shocked.

It wasn't even a rumor. It just happened. Abruptly.

Despite Melky's inconsistency at the plate, he was a fan favorite in New York.
Teammates and fans enjoyed his jovial demeanor on a team generally regarded as rigid. It has always seemed like Melky plays for his love for baseball rather than for the money he earns.

Whether he was chasing down a deep fly ball, making his signature wide turn around first, or delivering in the clutch, Melky was a joy to watch every night.

For most Braves fans, this was not the deal that they were looking for. With a surplus at the pitching postition, Atlanta was poised to deal one of either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.

With Derek Lowe's recent comments about being on the trading block, it left most Braves fans, including myself, with the thought he was surely the one to be traded. However, with three years and 45 million dollars due to Lowe, the Braves found that option rather difficult.

The 2009 starting rotation of the Colorado Rockies turned in the greatest performance of any rotation in the franchise's history. Several team records fell as the regular five hurlers took their turn and pitched very well time and time again.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De la Rosa, and Jason Hammel each started 30 or more games, and Aaron Cook got the ball 27 times. Each won 10 or more games—the only team in MLB that could make such a claim.

According to an ESPN.com report, the Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in signing free agent closer Fernando Rodney to a two-year contract at $12 million as a setup man and safety net to Brad Lidge.

Rodney, 32, converted on 37 saves in 38 opportunities last season with the Detroit Tigers while posing a 4.40 earned run average, the highest ERA among American League relievers with more than 20 save opportunities (Per ESPN).

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that the Seattle Mariners have traded pitcher Brandon Morrow to the Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Brandon League and a prospect.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Yankees may be close to acquiring a starter:

Yankees working very hard tonight on deal for starting pitcher. Remember that they came close to deal for Aaron Harang in summer.

The Yankees have been busy this offseason, already landing Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson, and have since turned their attention to the starting rotation.

As bold and premature predictions go, this may be the ultimate. In the world of baseball prognostication, it is nearly heresy to even consider what I am about to propose.

As I cast my eyes across the National League, however, I am left with no alternative. It simply must be noted: the Washington Nationals have a very real chance of making the postseason in 2010.

About the Authors and the Voting Process

Section written by Jonathan Stilwell and Michael W

This is a collaboration piece that was really written by three different Bleacher Report members.

The three BR historians that voted on and wrote this article are Oystein Dahl, Jonathan Stilwell and Michael W.