I'll make this short and sweet. I love baseball, so the last month and a half has been a chore for me because  - well - nothing has happened.

Ahh, so begins the Hot Stove Report - fueled by the current winer meetings attended by baseball general managers. This is when teams are built or destroyed. When hopes are made and dashed. It's baseball free agent time.

But wait, where's all the action? Usually, something happens before the meetings, which kicked today. Thus far, all that's happened is a backup catcher getting traded. Hmmm.

Oh that's right, no team is making any moves until one of the big horses is signed - Mark Texiera or CC Sabathia.  These guys control nearly the entire free agent class.

CC will set the mark for pitching and for what teams can do with or without him. For instance, the small-market Brewers have to wait until he officially says no to their subpar $100 million offer before they can direct their attention elsewhere. They can't afford CC and another free agent (top-line or marginal). The Yanks want to sign him so they can start buying everyone else (Lowe, Burnett, etc.).

Texiera is the biggest bat, so teams are vying for him and then turning to Manny (Dodgers, Angels).

So right now, it's a big showcase of nothing. Before the meetings are over at the end of the week, I expect more trades than signings. And when super agent Scott Boras is involved with many of these players, you know the process will take longer.

Maybe I'm wrong, and by the end of the week you can tell me so. But so far, the Hot Stove hasn't been lit.