Updating the Hottest Questions of the 2015-2016 MLB Offseason, Week 9

The glacial market for bats is slowly beginning to thaw, which means the long winter wait for Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis and Justin Upton should soon draw to an end as Week 9 of the 2015-2016 MLB offseason comes to a close.

While those unemployed sluggers dominate the conversation, there's also room for some talk about a retired masher and a former ace whose Hall of Fame credentials are in the headlines.

Plus, an important question has popped up in Southern California following the latest executive addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers' All-Star front office.

Is the Election of Mike Piazza Going to Open the Floodgates?

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press/Associated Press

The most-recent Hall of Fame gave Barry Bonds reason to smile.

The election of Mike Piazza to the Hall of Fame is shaping up to have some major implications for Barry Bonds, Rogers Clemens and other all-time greats who have been left to wallow in a performance-enhancing-drugs purgatory.

As Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports argued, Piazza could become a PED "pioneer" even though he was only ever tied to rumor and speculation—not a positive test.

"Treating Piazza like some sort of steroid pioneer is so twisted, so backward, so very Hall of Fame," Passan wrote. "If that’s what it takes to help voters recognize that leaving out Bonds and Clemens—the greatest hitter since Babe Ruth and one of the finest pitchers ever—is an abdication of duty, so be it."

As Passan pointed out, a slew of the most prominent writers from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports to Jon Heyman of MLB Network and WFAN to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN have already jumped on the Bonds-Clemens bandwagon.

Both Bonds and Clemens still have six more go-rounds on the ballot, which means there's plenty of time for other voters to join the movement and get Barry and the Rocket to Cooperstown.

The Answer: No, but the tide is slowly but surely changing.

Did the Los Angeles Dodgers Really Need Another "General Manager"?

Associated Press

Alex Anthopoulos is the latest star to join the brass at Chavez Ravine.

From losing out in the Zack Greinke derby to a division rival to failing to address the subpar bullpen, it's been an underwhelming winter for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio sees it, the "best move" of the offseason for the Dodgers has been the addition of Alex Anthopoulos. In October, Sporting News tabbed Anthopoulos as the MLB Executive of the Year. As the architect behind the Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki and David Price blockbusters, he was a worthy winner.

But here's the pressing question: Do the Dodgers really need another high-profile boss in the front office?

As Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times noted, the Dodgers now have six current or former GMs in the brain trust. Everyone knows the adage about "too many cooks," and right now, the Dodgers' broth—or rather roster—is looking suspect.

Unless the arrival of Anthopoulos means another exec is headed toward the hot seat, it's difficult to understand why the Dodgers are adding yet another prominent voice to the decision-making process.

The Answer: Nope

Will Chris Davis End Up Taking the Baltimore Orioles Offer After All?

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Chris Davis is still searching for that elusive second offer.

As January wears on, a return to Camden Yards just keeps looking more and more compelling for Chris Davis.

His agent, Scott Boras, is famous for slow-playing the free-agent market, but following that strategy could lead to a disastrous result for his client. The left-handed-hitting first baseman is still the priority target for the Baltimore Orioles, but the squad has a pair of intriguing alternative options in Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton.

"The Orioles definitely have interest in the two, according to sources," Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun wrote. "But it still appears that barring a dramatic fall in their market, Upton and Cespedes are more considered fallback options in case the Orioles can’t re-sign Davis."

Sure, crawling back to the O's would bruise Boras' outsized ego, but a seven-year, $150 million contract wouldn't be such a bad fallback option for Davis. As Encina explained, "even though the club says it took the offer off the table, it’s still there for Davis if he chooses to take it."

Right now, choosing the Orioles' pile of money looks like Crush Davis' best chance of cashing in.

The Answer: Yes

Where Will Yoenis Cespedes Play on Opening Day?

David Goldman/Associated Press

Yoenis Cespedes should be on the Washington Nationals' shopping list.

Three years.

That's how many more years the Washington Nationals are guaranteed to have Bryce Harper, the best player on the planet. Apologies to Mike Trout, but Harper ripped that crown right off his head when the Nats phenom posted a 1.109 OPS and a WAR of 9.9 on his way to becoming the unanimous MVP of the National League.

What better way for Washington to maximize its window of opportunity with Harper than to bring La Potencia to the nation's capital?

The Nationals were reported to be in the market for a prime-time outfielder earlier in the offseason. During the winter meetings, Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio dubbed the club a "serious threat" to snag Jason Heyward.

Cespedes is a much different style of player than the glove-first Heyward, but his big-time pop would be a welcome addition as the Nats aim to overtake the New York Mets in 2016.

The Answer: Nationals Park

What Kind of Deal Is Justin Upton Going to Land?

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

The winter has not gone to plan for Justin Upton.

As the music plays on, there's a real chance that Justin Upton could be the guy who gets left without a seat in the game of offseason free-agent musical chairs.

When it comes to power bats, Upton is competing against Chris Davis and Yoenis Cespedes. Like Upton, Davis is attached to draft-pick compensation. But while Upton hit 26 jacks in 2015, Davis checked in with 47. Cespedes clubbed 35 and has no draft-pick weight to worry about.

As ESPN's Buster Olney wrote at the end of December, it's time for Upton to start considering a one-year "pillow contract."

"Upton's greatest advantage now is that he's still just 28 years old," Olney wrote. "If he works out a one-year deal, picks a preferred destination in a nice hitter's park for the 2016 season and has a strong year, he could be the best available position player next fall."

Per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Texas Rangers are "interested" in offering Upton a pillow. Globe Life Park would certainly qualify as a hitter-friendly spot. According to ESPN's Park Factor ranking, Globe Life was the fifth-best stadium for run production in 2015.

The Answer: A one-year "pillow"

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.