Having Max Scherzer or James Shields would make the Dodgers’ staff amazing. Think about it. Kershaw, Greinke, Scherzer, Ryu, and then Anderson/McCarthy splitting the number 5 role.

It’s a dream.

Adding a pitcher like Scherzer to the Dodgers’ already stacked-staff would be a dream. There are probably better ways to spend their money though. By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, via Wikimedia Commons

But it’s an inefficient one, at least according to Buster Olney. Scherzer is asking for a $200 million contract. The Dodgers’ rotation already has five starters. Also, think about what you could get for $200 million.

Here is a list of free agents at the end of 2015 (click here to see who’s still left for 2014).

Interesting guys left for this season include relief pitchers like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Coke. Even with some offseason moves, you can never have enough bullpen depth. While Scherzer is definitely the highest profile name out there and there is a significant drop in talent after Shields.

Notice that, while Zack Greinke is on the 2015 list, so are some other players that could be interesting. Ben Zobrist has history with Andrew Friedman. Ian Desmond will be a 30 year-old shortstop if Corey Seager needs to move to third base to replace Juan Uribe.

As far as pitching, things could get really interesting. If Greinke opts out, they’d have an interesting decision to make on him. Other guys could be available too, including Clay Bucholz, Yovani Gallardo, Rick Porcello, David Price, John Lackey, Jordan Zimmerman, and Scott Kazmir, to name a few. With Price, Gallardo, and Zimmerman at the top of this list, a fan’s mind can wander. While Price is the only one on this list that would stack-up with Zack in my mind, a team like the Dodgers with money to spend could really think about saddling up to the buffet and continuing to add solid pitching depth — with or without Greinke.

For the price of Scherzer, perhaps the Dodgers can get a number of good years Greinke has left and still have enough left over for one of the other pitchers on next year’s list or someone like Desmond or Zobrist to play key roles.

Andrew Friedman’s one constant since he took over has been to make the Dodgers a more nimble organization that can operate with less restrictions and lots of flexibility when it comes to making moves. While signing Scherzer would be really, really fun, it would go against this trend. It wouldn’t be efficient.

Then again, isn’t Friedman the master of market inefficiencies?

Every offseason brings speculation and rumors and every offseason something happens that nobody saw coming. It’s what makes the hot stove so hot. The 2014-2015 MLB offseason will be no different as there are numerous high-powered free agents looking to test the free agent market. After what was a crazy 2014 baseball season, the 2015 season should be another great one but first we have to figure out all the craziest of the offseason. Here are my predictions for some of baseballs biggest free agents and the predictions for the 2014 season award winners:

Max Scherzer is a free agent this winter and could find a new home come next season. By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA (Max Scherzer) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

MVP: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

CY Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Manager of the year: Matt Williams, Washington Nationals

Rookie of the year: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

2014 AL Award Predictions:

MVP: Mike Trout, Anaheim Angels

CY Young: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Manager of the year: Ned Yost, Kansas City Royals

Rookie of the year: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

Free Agents:

Max Scherzer (SP, Tigers): Signs with the Mariners

Jon Lester (SP, Athletics): Signs with the Cubs

James Shields (SP, Royals): Signs with the Yankees

Pablo Sandoval (3B, Giants): Re-signs with the Giants

Hanley Ramirez (SS, Dodgers): Signs with the Yankees

Nelson Cruz (RF, Orioles): Re-signs with the Orioles

Victor Martinez (C, Tigers): Re-signs with the Tigers

Melky Cabrera (RF, Blue Jays): Signs with the White Sox

Russell Martin (C, Pirates): Signs with the Dodgers

Ervin Santana (SP, Braves): Signs with the Dodgers

Francisco Liriano (SP, Pirates): Signs with the Twins

Brandon McCarthy (SP, Yankees): Signs with the Orioles

David Robertson (RP, Yankees): Signs with the Orioles

Kenta Maeda (SP, Japan): Signs with the Astros

Yasmany Tomas (OF, Cuba): Signs with the Rangers

Chase Headley (3B, Yankees): Signs with the Red Sox

Andrew Miller (RP, Orioles): Signs with the Tigers

Justin Masterson (SP, Cardinals): Signs with the Brewers

Jed Lowrie (SS, Athletics): Signs with the Nationals

Asdrubal Cabrera (SS, Nationals): Signs with the Reds

Nick Markakis (OF, Orioles): Signs with the Giants

Adam LaRoche (1B, Nationals): Signs with the Padres

Jake Peavy (SP, Giants): Signs with the Cubs

Mike Morse (OF, Giants): Signs with the Royals

Alex Rios (OF, Rangers): Signs with the Mets

Luke Gregerson (RP, Athletics): Signs with the Dodgers

Edinson Volquez (SP, Pirates): Signs with the Braves

Torii Hunter (OF, Tigers): Re-signs with the Tigers

AJ Burnett (SP, Phillies): Signs with the Red Sox

Sergio Romo (RP, Giants): Signs with the Dodgers

Francisco Rodriguez (RP, Brewers): Signs with the Angels

Rafael Soriano (RP, Nationals): Signs with the Tigers

Aaron Harang (SP, Braves): Signs with the Giants

Nori Aoki (OF, Royals): Re-signs with the Royals

Billy Butler (DH, Royals): Signs with the Indians

Stephen Drew (SS, Yankees): Signs with the Marlins

Chad Billingsley (SP, Dodgers): Signs with the Padres

A.J. Pierzynski (C, Cardinals): Signs with the White Sox

Jason Grilli (RP, Angels): Signs with the Giants

Emillio Bonifacio (2B, Braves): Re-signs with the Braves

Brandon Morrow (SP, Blue Jays): Signs with the Diamondbacks

It’s always fun to speculate. Who would you like to see on your favorite team?

For a really cool analysis of free agents, check out Fangraphs, who crowd-sourced what free agents should get what kind of deal. It’s always fun to see the difference between what the fans think a player is worth and what that player gets on the open market.

You can see the post here.