The first pillar of the 2015 MLB offseason has arrived. General managers are currently convening in Boca Raton, Florida, for their annual meetings, which serve as the unofficial beginning of the hot-stove season.

Baseball's prospect-mania has reached a point where some teams would rather trade a player that has proven he can succeed in the big leagues instead of giving up the potential of an untested youngster. 

It's understandable to a degree. Potential is intoxicating, and all of us—fans, pundits, talent evaluators and front office executives—lap it up like Scooby-Doo destroys a box of Scooby Snacks.

Bust—it's a word with a negative connotation.

That's even truer in sports, as the term "bust" sticks with a player throughout his career. Over the next few slides, we'll identify our all-bust team filled with free agents that could potentially flop next season. 

By sifting through stats, we can see trends that are developing during a player's career. Home runs, RBI and ERA are nice, but they don't always tell the entire story. 

Playoff sensation Daniel Murphy was bound to attract plenty of interest on the free-agent market following his October heroics, which propelled the New York Mets to the National League pennant. 

At least one team is already expressing its desire to sign the seven-year veteran. 

Continue for updates.

While you're scanning a list of potential free agents that will be available this winter, don't forget there should be a handful of impact players available via trade over the coming months.

Over the next few slides, we'll identify a few major leaguers entering the final year of their contracts who could be trade candidates during the offseason. 

In other sports, free agency is a sprint. Our Bleacher Report NBA colleagues were writing about the few remaining "hidden gems" by July 4—just three days after the market opened and before anyone could even officially sign.

For the second consecutive offseason, the Chicago Cubs could land the hottest left-hander on the market.

Nothing is official until the ink's dry, obviously, but right now, fans on the North Side can allow themselves to dream of David Price in a Cubbies uniform.

The deadline for MLB teams to extend qualifying offers to impending free agents passed at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and 20 players will get the chance to make some money in the offseason.

This number shattered the previous record of 13, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

On Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET, MLB free agents will officially be free to sign with any club. With 139 names on the free-agent list, there is plenty of intrigue as the hot-stove season gets set to fire up.

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia admitted this week he's known about his alcohol problem for about three years. Yet, it wasn't until near the end of the regular season in Baltimore that he finally understood he needed help.