"The three biggest superstar free-for-alls of the current off-season — Jayson Werth, Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke — were all won by surprise teams, believed to be long shots at best.

All three — the Nationals, Phillies and Brewers — are teams that had observed the Giants' unlikely World Series win and decided the future of contending is now, that rebuilding is day-to-day.

For the sad-sack Nationals, signing the free-agent outfielder Werth for seven years at $126 million (all figures U.S.) while he was courted by the Red Sox, among others, was all about contending as soon as their prized No. 1 overall picks are ready for prime time."