Max Scherzer and James Shields still need homes for 2015 and beyond.

The two starting pitchers remain untouched on MLB's free-agent market, waiting to select a new employer before Opening Day. While action predictably intensified once fellow ace Jon Lester made his decision, the other premium hurlers did not budge on expediting the process.

Per usual, this MLB offseason is filled with interesting moves. Unlike seasons past, however, the amount of activity since the end of the World Series leaves much to dissect when analyzing the surprises and disappointments.

To be clear, we will stay away from individual contracts or trades. Instead, we will focus on things at the franchise level.

It's not easy to find value on the MLB offseason market. 

Just take a look at the Toronto Blue Jays, who landed one of the best catchers in baseball but had to dish out a five-year, $82 million deal to bring Russell Martin to the Rogers Centre. Simply put, the top winter targets are almost always attached to exorbitant price tags. 

Hiroki Kuroda has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Sports Illustrated translated Daisuke Sugiura of Yahoo Japan's original report:

If the Cincinnati Reds were holding out hope of Johnny Cueto giving them a hometown discount on an extension, it sounds like they can forget about it.

Over the last 20 years, the New York Yankees have claimed five World Series championships, seven American League Pennants and five AL East titles. The success of the Yankees has come in large part from the homegrown talents of the "Core Four."

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte were certainly the faces of the Yankees dynasty—and arguably the most eccentric part of the success the Yankees had. However, the shrewd moves in free agency are what helped build this team into the force it has become.

Though 2015 doesn't officially begin until January 1, the Chicago Cubs have already kicked off their 2015 by making a huge splash in free agency and a few trades during the 2014-15 offseason.

The Atlanta Braves have completely transformed their roster this offseason as we sit at the two-month mark.

The man pegged to be the future face of the franchise as he ascended through the minors (Jason Heyward), was traded away to St. Louis.

The player who generated so much excitement as he completed the most thrilling outfield in the game (Justin Upton) did not last as long in Atlanta as the "throw in" (Chris Johnson) from that trade.

The beauty of the MLB offseason is that you never know if the biggest move of the winter has been made.

This is going to be an offseason Major League Baseball fans look back on with a smile. With the exception of a few teams, virtually every franchise seems to believe that contention in 2015 is possible. It's why trades and signings have been happening more rapidly than we are used to.