Just two years into his massive 10-year, $240 million deal, second baseman Robinson Cano may already be devising an exit plan from the Seattle Mariners.  

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The MLB winter meetings are just two weeks away, and the competitive landscape of free agency will likely make its biggest plays this offseason. 

Executives of all 30 teams will convene in Nashville, where the hot stove will reach its peak. 

Early in MLB's offseason, the rumor mill will run wild with possibilities. Some will foreshadow future maneuvers, but others will remain in "What if?" purgatory.

A general manager isn't doing his due diligence by hanging up on an inquiry. Even an untouchable superstar has his price if the other side is willing to overpay. Many speculated studs on the hot stove will stay put, but it's usually worth a conversation.

Managers love to talk about the flexibility of not having a full-time designated hitter. They can use the spot to give players rest, giving them in effect a half-day off. They can keep guys in the lineup when a minor injury may keep them from effectively playing in the field.

It's all true and it's all great, but there's a much better way to build an American League team:

Have a DH like David Ortiz.

That sound you just heard was another trade rumor whizzing past your ear like a high, tight four-seamer. Hey, there goes another one. And another.

It's that time of year. The World Series confetti has been swept from the streets of Kansas City; the awards have been awarded. And the hot stove is still crackling to life, spitting more sparks than flames.

So we amuse ourselves with rumors and speculation. What else can you do when staring down three long, frigid months of no baseball?

Without a doubt, Major League Baseball teams hand their players the most ridiculous contracts—in money and length—in all of North American professional sports. 

It is a reason to scoff at cynics who claim baseball is a dying sport, but it is also ammunition for heated debates about just how bad some deals might be, in terms of dollars, duration or both. There are plenty to choose from thanks to owners and front offices willing to pay players greatly for past production while crossing their fingers for some of that production to happen in the future.

The World Series ended three weeks ago. Ever since, it's been all quiet on the baseball front.

Unless, of course, you count all the hot stove chatter.

There's been no shortage of that, as we've reached the point where we have to worry about when the folks at MLB Trade Rumors last slept. The rumors and reports have been coming fast and furious enough to literally (and figuratively) spin your head.

It doesn't take a brilliant baseball mind to sign a free agent like Yoenis Cespedes, Zack Greinke or David Price. While the deals the most well-known commodities sign don't always pay off as hoped, it's not a difficult decision to sign a big-time slugger or shutdown ace.

Although the easiest way for teams to improve their rosters is through free agency, organizations are getting creative with trades to upgrade for 2016 this winter. By trading, teams are able to stay away from long-term deals that can cripple franchises.

But that doesn't mean that working with another team is always the best idea. Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at a handful of offseason trade targets that teams might want to steer clear of. 

The St. Louis Cardinals had many good things going for them in 2015, but power was not one of them. As such, you can't blame them for having eyes on the best power hitter money can buy.

We can, however, offer a few words of warning: Cardinals, my friends, here's where you need to tread very, very carefully.