Updating the Hottest Questions of the 2014-2015 MLB Offseason, Week 5

Major League Baseball's offseason is more than a month old, but there's no shortage of rumors and speculation—and questions—around a number of free agents and trade candidates, as well as teams' objectives and plans of attack.

Some of the latest center on the plans of the deep-pocketed Los Angeles Dodgers, the fallout in Oakland from the Josh Donaldson trade and what Chase Headley is worth on the open market.

Having covered a number of topics last time, what better way to continue taking the temperature of the hot stove than by running through a batch of the hottest questions to cover the latest potential transaction action across the sport?

See, that's a question in and of itself, although the four to follow are a bit more meaningful. Promise.

Are the Dodgers About to Do Something Big?

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Dodgers are rumored to be after free agent Jon Lester or possibly Phillies ace Cole Hamels—and more.

Sure feels like it, huh?

With all the buzz around free agent Jon Lester over the past week coming from the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are joining the party too. And they may be ready to throw their financial heft around to get a deal done.

Here's Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com:

"

While the Red Sox, Cubs and Giants have all been part of a public courtship process of Jon Lester, interest from the industry's financial heavyweights—the Yankees and Dodgers—had not been documented. But, multiple sources connected to teams interested in Lester have told WEEI.com that the Dodgers are a late entrant into the sweepstakes, with both serious interest in the top left-hander on the market and the resources to make a hard, late charge.

"

Teaming Lester with fellow aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke would make for a hard-to-top front three in the Dodgers rotation. After Hyun-Jin Ryu, who battled injury issues in 2014, the only other starter is Dan Haren, who, at age 34 and coming off a 4.02 ERA, is no longer the consistent, reliable pitcher he once was.

While landing Lester likely would cost L.A. something in the range of $140 million to $150 million, the club also could unload some payroll by trading one (or more) of its high-priced outfielders—Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford and/or Andre Ethier.

In fact, the Dodgers are continuing to discuss the possibility of dealing Kemp, who has $107 million left on his contract, to the San Diego Padres, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

There's also word that the Philadelphia Phillies are looking into the Dodgers farm system, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Perhaps the two sides can try to put a trade together involving southpaw Cole Hamels.

As if that's not enough, the Dodgers also are battling the New York Yankees to sign lefty reliever Andrew Miller, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

All of the above isn't going to happen, but given the Dodgers' money and desperation to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1988, it would be surprising if at least something didn't go down.

Which Player(s) Will Be Next to Go for the Athletics?

John F. Rhodes/Associated Press

Having traded Josh Donaldson (left) already, could the A's be ready to move Brandon Moss (right), too?

In the wake of the surprising Josh Donaldson trade to the Toronto Blue Jays on Black Friday, the Oakland Athletics appear to be on the brink of another round of selling off their top trade chips.

That means both Brandon Moss and Jeff Samardzija could be on the move.

Even though he's recovering from offseason hip surgery, Moss has been drawing interest for his ability to play first base and outfield, as well as his lefty bat, which has produced three straight 20-homer campaigns.

In fact, one MLB executive told Jayson Stark of ESPN that the A's are "going to trade" Moss. The most interested party is the Cleveland Indians, who could know their chances on Moss by Friday, per Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer.

As for Samardzija, call it a hunch: The right-hander, who is a free agent after 2015, would be a great fit for the Boston Red Sox, who desperately need rotation help.

Here's Buster Olney of ESPN (subscription required):

"

Oakland is looking for a shortstop as it dangles pitcher Jeff Samardzija in trade talks, and Boston has an elite defensive shortstop who is major league-ready in Deven Marrero. In fact, the Athletics and Red Sox are a theoretical match on several players, including Brock Holt, who played well at multiple positions after he was called up last season and would fit well in Oakland.

"

With Yoenis Cespedes, Jon Lester and Donaldson gone, Oakland might as well trade both Moss and Samardzija and embark on a full rebuild. Even if the A's were to hang on to that pair, they're far from the same team that was considered the best in baseball only four months ago. And Samardzija will be gone next winter anyway.

How Come Chase Headley Is in Line to Get So Much Money?

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Chase Headley apparently has a pretty big offer on the table.

Did you hear the one about the team reportedly putting a four-year, $65 million offer on the table for Chase Headley? Sounds like a joke, right? Except it's not, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Teams that have been linked to the 30-year-old third baseman include the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, per Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, as well as the San Francisco Giants, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Third base and the rotation are really at the forefront of our focus," Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans said, per Schulman, alluding to the club's lack of an internal solution at the hot corner after free agent Pablo Sandoval went to Boston.

The Marlins, meanwhile, are looking to improve their roster around $300 million man Giancarlo Stanton.

The Yankees liked what they saw after acquiring Headley in July but have been hesitant about giving him four years, per George A. King III of the New York Post, especially when they could put Martin Prado at third base.

Admittedly, that many years and that much money seems rather steep for Headley, who will be 31 in May and was rather pedestrian in 2013 and the first half of 2014. While he is a very good defender and boosted his stock with a better showing in New York (.262/.371/.398), that was in barely 200 plate appearances.

So how could he possibly get so much? Well, now that Victor Martinez, Russell Martin, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis have signed, Headley is arguably the top free-agent position player left on the board. And with all teams turning over every rock to unearth some offense, it's a little bit more understandable.

The other factor, of course, is that Headley's market is not undercut by draft-pick compensation, which makes it easier for a team with some financial fortitude to burn an extra year and another $5 million to $10 million without any other sort of "penalty."

Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.