DETROIT -- The holidays are over, the calendar has turned and Spring Training now falls under the description of next month rather than next year. This is when time takes on urgency for baseball's offseason market. It's also when the Tigers have done some of their biggest deals, from Carlos Guillen to Ivan Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez to Johnny Damon, Jose Valverde to Prince Fielder.
With a glut of free-agent outfielders, plus a lingering market of free-agent pitchers and an ample all-around trade market, baseball's Hot Stove season could have one of its busiest closing stretches ever.