"Part of the private art collection housed in the Hilton Anatole are two life-sized, three-ton elephant statues that stand in the tower lobby -- eight-foot creatures looming over all the Hot Stove hubbub of these Winter Meetings.

They are the actual elephants in the room, though there are, of course, figurative ones in play here, too.

The first, undoubtedly, is Albert Pujols, and the Marlins' reported 10-year offer for his services had the lobby buzzing early Tuesday and through the night. Pujols' next move is going to have a big bearing not only on the Fish and Cardinals, but also on many free-agent moves to follow.

But another elephant in the room -- one not drawing nearly as much focus as the Pujols saga comes to a climax but an important one, nonetheless -- is Yu Darvish.

He's the Japanese mystery man who could totally reshape the current starting pitching market, if only we had some concrete understanding as to whether or not he'll become available. "