"It's that time of year again in major league baseball where player agents' thoughts turn to one week of seriously negotiating free-agent contracts, gaining countless buckets full of money from MLB teams that never knew they were willing to spend that much.

It's time for the full-court press from agents to teams and their fans.

It's the annual baseball winter meetings get-together and there's a tradition heading into the proceedings: Agents throw out borderline believable rumours that their clients are close and that offers are out there — and hey, yeah, you, the GM not making us an offer, you'd better get your assets in gear and join the frenzy or you'll be left out."