The Hot Stove season is upon us, and thus far, we have seen promising signs of moving past the free-agent freeze of the past two winters in the multiple early signings of major free agents by the Braves and White Sox, two teams not known for spending big. Even so, with competitive imbalance at an expansion-era high -- at least in terms of the standard deviation of team winning percentage, a fancy way of saying the spread between the good teams and bad -- it's not hard to imagine who will be competing for playoff spots in 2020. Primarily, it will be the same teams who did so in 2019.

That at least lends itself to a fun exercise as we consider what the top teams that missed out on this past postseason could do to secure a playoff spot next year, in the form of One Big Move. Granted, no team is going to limit itself to just one offseason transaction, and nobody secures a playoff spot without lucking into more best-case scenarios (and fewer worst-case ones) in terms of injuries and player development than its competition. But as we look out across the baseball landscape, here are a handful of potential moves -- by teams that won at least 81 games last year but wound up on the outside looking in -- which could shake up the 2020 playoff picture.

It's that time of year when players sign contracts with lots of zeroes on them and executives wheel and deal for holiday bargains.

The general manager's meetings are over, with the winter meetings just around the corner. That means the hot stove season is percolating -- though several deals have already been consummated.

Before a slew of more moves go down, we asked a panel of experts for their opinion on what's to come. Who will go where and what teams will be most active?

Our 15 team executives and baseball insiders answer those questions and more.

1. Which team will make the biggest splash of the offseason?

Survey says: Angels 7; Padres 2; Rangers 2; White Sox 2; Cubs 1; Yankees 1

Not everyone could agree on what the biggest splash will look like, but signing Joe Maddon is a good start to a potentially big offseason for the Angels, who are desperate for pitching. Maddon represents Mike Trout's best chance to go deep into a postseason. They won't get there without help on the mound, and they just might reel in the biggest fish in Gerrit Cole.

Since we sent out this survey, we've already seen the White Sox -- who got a pair of votes to tie for second place here -- hit the free-agent market, giving catcher Yasmani Grandal the biggest contract in team history and re-signing Jose Abreu.

"If any team signs two of the bigger names, then that's the biggest splash," one voter said. "The Angels are the easy answer here, but they can't win the winter via trade. It has to come by signing some pitchers."

2. Which of these three players is most likely to start next season with a new team: Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor or Kris Bryant?

Survey says: Lindor 8; Bryant 7; Betts 0

Most interesting is that Betts didn't receive even a single vote despite being the closest to free agency among the three. He can walk after next year. New Red Sox GM, Chaim Bloom is facing a dilemma: Keep Betts, hoping to sign him to a long-term deal after next season, or trade him as the executive's first big move in his new job.

Bryant's situation is murky as well. His service-time grievance should be decided soon, meaning if he wins, he'll be a free agent next winter along with Betts. In any case, insiders believe he or Lindor -- both are currently slated to become free agents after the 2021 season -- are most likely to move teams this offseason.

"Bryant's grievance would seem to complicate matters [for the Cubs]," said one executive who voted for Lindor.

But, said another exec who voted for Bryant: "The Cubs aren't afraid to make a big move."

3. Anthony Rendon is the clear top hitter on this market. Where will he land and for how much?

Where he'll land: Nationals 13; Rangers 1; Cardinals 1

For how much: Highest response: Eight years, $280 million (Texas); Lowest response: Six years, $200 million (Washington); Average response: Seven years, $227 million

One executive referred to Rendon as "juiced-ball proof" because of his ability to lay off borderline pitches while driving the ball into the gaps (88 doubles over the past two years) when he does swing. Rendon can play on any team in any ballpark -- with any kind of ball.

As evidenced by answers to the question below, most simply believe he'll stay in Washington, where agent Scott Boras already has a cozy relationship with ownership.

And their answers to question No. 8 indicate how much they believe Rendon will be worth whatever contract he signs: His name never came up as someone who will be overpaid. It says a lot in the era of mega-deals for star players that no one polled thinks he brings the risk that often comes with a player about to turn 30.

4. Who's more likely to return to the Nats, Stephen Strasburg or Rendon?

Survey says: Rendon 12; Strasburg 3

The team that "loses out" on Cole will be plenty happy if they ink Strasburg. His 209 innings pitched led the National League, but most believe he's less likely to return to Washington than Rendon simply because he opted out of his contract there.

While Clayton Kershaw did return to Los Angeles after opting out, it's no sure thing that Strasburg will do the same. Either way, the timing of his MVP performance in the World Series made his opt out a no-brainer and, while he likely won't get Cole money, he could also make some history this winter (see below) -- in Washington or elsewhere.

5. Will Gerrit Cole get a $300 million deal: Definitely, no chance or it'll be close but under?

Survey says: Close but under 9; no chance 6; definitely 0

Cole had one of the best free-agent seasons in recent memory, perhaps among the best of all time, as one executive put it. Will he be as good on another team not named the Astros?

The fact that no one polled thought he would get $300 million is less about him having only two out-of-this world seasons under his belt and more about the nature of giving a pitcher that kind of deal. Besides, he doesn't need to reach the $300 million figure to set a record for a pitcher. That belongs to David Price at $217 million.

Everyone polled believes he'll still blow that number away, and most predicted it'll happen in a deal with the Angels.

"It would be hard to choose Cole over Rendon as the player to live up to his paycheck just based on positions," one executive said, "but if he takes his last two years and keeps on that path with whoever he pitches for, he'll be worth every penny."

6. Of the second-tier guys, which of these free-agent starting pitchers would you most want your team to sign this winter: Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler or Dallas Keuchel?

Survey says: Wheeler 8; Bumgarner 4; Keuchel 2; Three-way tie 1

It wasn't long ago that Wheeler would have finished far behind the two more accomplished pitchers, but now, a couple years past his arm issues and coming off a solid 195-inning campaign, the majority polled here believe he's the best bet of the three.

Even though they're roughly the same age, Bumgarner has pitched more than 1,000 more innings than Wheeler, and, as we've learned over the past couple of winters, teams are paying for the future over the past more than ever. Bumgarner is coming off a 34-start, 207-inning season, but some wonder how he'll fare in a ballpark other than Oracle Park.

This was no slam dunk vote, though, as Keuchel got support as well.

"Don't sleep on him," one Keuchel voter said. "He bet on himself by sitting out half a year and was a big help in Atlanta with solid numbers. Plus, the guy has a lot of heart."

7. How much does the 2019 baseball -- and what the ball will be like going forward -- impact your offseason decision making: A lot, some or not at all?

Survey says: Some 9; not at all 3, a lot 0; 3 respondents declined to answer

There's a big assumption that the 2020 baseball won't look like the 2019 one. Perhaps it'll resemble the postseason ball, which didn't carry as much. The bottom line for executives: While they aren't going to spend a lot of time thinking about it, that doesn't mean they won't spend any time thinking about it.

There's a chasing-their-tail kind of feeling to this topic.

"I think it's important to try to identify hitters [or pitchers] you think were impacted most by the apparent 2019 baseball," one exec said, "but what if it never changes? What if it changes drastically? I think there are other factors at play when evaluating players that are much more important ... because all 30 teams will be using the same balls."

8. Who is the one player most likely to be overpaid on a big contract this winter?

Survey says: Wheeler 4; Grandal 2 (Grandal signed with the White Sox after our survey was complete); Nicholas Castellanos 1; Daniel Hudson 1; 7 respondents declined to answer

What makes Wheeler so attractive -- the lack of mileage on his arm -- could make him a dangerous signing as well.

"What's on his resume?" one insider asked.

Wheeler has made 30-plus starts in just two seasons, but he's not the only free agent who elicits doubt. It's the nature of the game at that point in a player's career. For example, Castellanos is coming off a huge year, with an OPS+ 23 points higher than he's ever produced. Will that continue into a new contract or will he regress to the mean? It's the kind of question every executive faces with every free agent they sign.

9. Which of these hitters will produce more over the length of their next contract: Didi Gregorius, Marcell Ozuna or Nicholas Castellanos?

Survey says: Castellanos 7; Ozuna 6; Gregorius 2

As you can see, the uncertain nature of free agency, combined with the hard task of predicting production in baseball, allows for overlap on several questions.

Where Castellanos can make the overpaid list, he can also be one of the most reliable hitters among what's available.

"He's a gap-doubles machine," one executive who voted for him said. "That should play in any ballpark."

Nearly as many chose Ozuna, whose numbers have dropped since leaving a pitchers' ballpark in Miami. But the question is about performing over the length of a deal. So while Castellanos is coming off a monster year, he's bound to get the bigger deal, hence the neck-and-neck voting when it comes to value and production for their upcoming contracts.

Northampton and Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson has agreed to extend his contract with the Premiership club.

The length of the deal is undisclosed, but the 23-year-old has been at the club since joining the academy in 2016.

Hutchinson made his international debut against France in August, but missed out on selection for the World Cup.

"I feel like I've been living out my dream over the past six months," he said. "I've no doubt that this is the best place for me to develop further."

Hutchinson was named Saints breakthrough player of the season last season as his performances helped the club to a top-four Premiership finish.

He was rewarded with a first Scotland call-up in the summer before scoring two tries on his first international start against Georgia in Tbilisi.

"Rory is a high-skill player who has made a significant step up in his performances over the past 12 months," Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd said.

"Crucially, he has not taken his foot off the accelerator and has picked up where he left off so far this season."

Former England centre Ben Te'o will join Japanese side Sunwolves for the 2020 Super Rugby season.

The 32-year-old joined French side Toulon in August after being left out of Eddie Jones' World Cup squad.

Te'o's England omission came shortly after an altercation with full-back Mike Brown during a team bonding session in Italy when Brown was also left out of Jones' squad.

Te'o is one of 14 foreign-born players in the Sunwolves' initial 15-man squad.

Australian number eight Jake Schatz, who has played in 92 Super Rugby matches, mostly for the Brisbane Reds, and Georgia hooker Jaba Bregvadze are also included for the 2020 season that begins in February.

This season is set to the be the Sunwolves' final Super Rugby campaign after the Japanese Rugby Football Union and the tournament organisers failed to reach an agreement on their continued involvement.

The team have won only eight of their 62 games in the competition since they joined in 2016, but national team coach Jamie Joseph has praised the opportunity it has provided for Japanese players to play with and against overseas stars.

New Zealand-born Te'o, who has previously represented Samoa at rugby league and has 20 England caps, left Worcester at the end of last season after three injury-blighted years at Sixways.

His decision to move overseas again makes him unavailable to England under the Rugby Football Union's international selection policy.

Yasir Shah may have just "woken up the beast." This is the general sense in the Australian camp after his haughty celebration following Steven Smith's dismissal for the seventh time in last week's first Test in Brisbane.

It's fair to say that Smith was perhaps not at his most focused when he entered the fray, after David Warner, Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne had already taken Australia well past Pakistan's first innings.

But he will be very much more so in Adelaide, admitting that Yasir's gesture had undoubtedly raised his competitive ire. The Australians flew into Adelaide on Tuesday and were followed a couple hours later by the visitors, who must win in Australia for the first time since 1995 if they wish to square the series.

"I am motivated, particularly after he put his fingers up ... that he got me seven times," Smith said in Adelaide. "A couple of the boys were in the sheds just after that and said 'he's just woken up the beast' or something like that. We're in for a battle next week. I'm not going to be giving away my wicket very easily this time.

"I actually didn't even know that he'd gotten me out [seven times]. I thought that he'd gotten me out once or twice. Seven times? There you go. Pakistan [UAE] 2014, he got me twice at least there, actually three times."

Though the record looks impressive for Yasir, several of these dismissals came in scenarios when quick runs were sought to further Australia's advantage. "A few of those times I was slogging to set up a game or second innings he got me out slogging trying to do something once or twice too," Smith said. "A couple of I guess you'd call them cheap wickets in a way, but he's got me a couple of conventional times as well.

"I thought he bowled really well at the Gabba last week. He got good drift and a little bit of spin when it was on offer. I'm not overly worried about him but playing with a bit more discipline this week and hopefully will score some runs.

"I spoke to JL in the morning [before batting] and I was like 'how should I go about this, should I just take it on'. He said 'just go out and entertain them, do what you want'," Smith said. "It was probably a bit more casual than if I'd come in at 2 for 20. I probably would have been a bit more cautious and got into my innings a bit more rather than playing a somewhat reckless shot. But we live and we learn and we go again.

"The scoreboard was in a pretty good place. I wasn't too disappointed. I usually do get pretty disappointed when I get out but the position we were in, we were in a pretty good one so it didn't faze me too much and it seemed to make him pretty happy, that's for sure."

Yasir had less success against Labuschagne, who contributed the sort of big, spinal first innings hundred that Smith has made into his trademark. Comparisons have been made as to the quirky nature of both Smith and his eager pupil, though the older man was not shy to draw a distinction.

"He's way stranger than I am," Smith said. "I thought he played beautifully. I've been really impressed with the way he went about things in England, the way he prepared, we talked a lot about batting. He's got a good understanding of what he's trying to do, what he's trying to achieve.

"He's been getting a lot of starts since sort of getting into the side. He's got a lot of 60s and 70s. The challenge for him is to turn them into 180 like he did last week. If he's doing that consistently, he's going to be a very, very good player in all forms of the game."

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants' Farhaan Behardien has been sidelined from the rest of the Mzansi Super League with injury. Thirty-nine-year-old Port Elizabeth-born Netherlands batsman Ryan ten Doeschate has been signed as Behardien's replacement.

Behardien brings a wealth of short-format experience, having played more then 350 T20s, including stints in the IPL, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League and more recently the T10 league in the UAE.

Giants have set the early pace this season, claiming four wins in five games to top the points table.

"I spent so much time watching cricket in the 1980s in Port Elizabeth," Ten doeschate said of his South African homecoming. "It's now an utter privilege that I get to play with a team that is doing so well in this tournament. I think it's going to be absolutely fantastic and I am really looking forward to it."

Giants' coach and former South Africa pacer Eric Simons welcomed the value ten Doeschate would add to the side.

"When we lost Farhaan we obviously lost a specific talent and we thus needed to find someone who could bring that to the game," Simons said. "We needed someone who can access the boundaries and perform much like the way we've seen with Heino Kuhn. "Ryan brings with him significant experience, calmness and he's a leader."

Giants will next face Paarl Rocks in a top-of-the-table clash at St George's Park on November 27.

Joe Root has dropped out of the world's Test batting top 10 for the first time in more than five years.

Root, fell to 11th in the latest ICC rankings, released on Tuesday, after scores of two and 11 in England's innings defeat in the first Test against New Zealand.

With an average of 27.40 from 10 Tests this year compared with 47.35 for his career, it is the first time since August 2014 that Root - who was the world's No. 1 batsman in August 2015 - has sat outside the top 10. His figures have also fallen since he took over the England Test captaincy in 2017, averaging 39.70 since then compared with 52.80 beforehand.

Root said it was "an easy excuse" to say his captaincy had led to his poor form with the bat.

"I've had a rough time in terms of scores," Root said. "I'm working hard. You have to go through a bit of a dip. The fact I'm captain, it's an easy excuse to use. I'm going to have to keep trusting my game because I've got a lot in the bank. I must not overthink things and just try to find that rhythm which allows me to get my innings off and running."

Also read: Who could possibly take over from Joe Root?

Ben Stokes reached a career-high ninth on the latest list to be the highest-ranked England player in the batting rankings. India opener Mayank Agarwal broke into the top ten for batsmen, replacing Root at No. 10.

New Zealand left-arm quick Neil Wagner moved up to No.3 among bowlers in the ICC Test rankings. He gained five places after bagging eight wickets, including a five-for in the second innings, to lead New Zealand to victory against England in the first-ever Test in Mount Maunganui.

Wagner's team-mate BJ Watling, who became the first New Zealand wicketkeeper to make a Test double-hundred, shot up 12 spots to be placed 12th among Test batsmen. Watling had soaked up 473 balls in Mount Maunganui - only Sri Lanka's Brendon Kuruppu has faced more balls than the New Zealander among wicketkeeper-batsmen in a Test innings.

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne reached career-best points tally of 684 and slotted in at 21. Labuschagne's 185 in the Brisbane Test was central to Australia securing an innings victory over Pakistan.

David Warner, who endured a torrid Ashes series in England, opened the home Test summer with 154 and gained six places to move to 17th. Steven Smith continues to be the No.1-ranked Test batsman with 931 points, followed closely by India captain Virat Kohli with 928 points, having hit a century in the first-ever pink-ball Test in India.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of how India's pacers dominated their home season in resounding wins over South Africa and Bangladesh was that it was done without Jasprit Bumrah, India's highest ranked Test bowler and arguably most potent weapon.

The trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have already stacked up never-before-seen numbers, and the addition of Bumrah makes for a pace quartet that could potentially be an all-conditions force for the next few years.

Without comparing the four Indian pacers to past West Indies pace quartets - it's far too early for that anyway - Phil Simmons said watching good fast bowling was exciting, no matter which team the bowlers belonged to.

"I can't say how long ago, but when I first came here, you would have Madan Lal opening the bowling," Simmons said at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. "Now you have guys bowling at 90 miles per hour opening and your premier fast bowler (Bumrah) was injured for this Test, so you still have him to come back. It's exciting for world cricket. Teams know now that you have to play properly on both sides - you have to have proper fast bowlers and proper spinners to beat India. Fast bowling from anybody is exciting, so it's great to see that happen. Hopefully we can get back our battery of young fast bowlers to the level where we're competing and giving people trouble."

Simmons is back as the West Indies coach for a second spell, and the team will take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test starting Wednesday. While this will be a regularly scheduled Test match, Simmons was left impressed with what he had watched of India's inaugural day-night, pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens. He also endorsed India captain Virat Kohli's views on how Test matches should be marketed.

"I did watch the first day. It was exciting to see Eden Gardens full. It's an awesome sight," Simmons said. "I think Virat hit the nail on the head when he said we have to promote Test cricket as hard as we promote T20. Even though T20 has more money involved, we have to promote it the same way. I think if that's done, we can see a resurgence of big crowds in Test cricket anywhere you go in the world."

The Eden Gardens Test finished on the third day, but drew big crowds on all three days. Questions remain about the visibility of the pink ball under lights, but having never been part of a day-night Test yet, Simmons said he could only offer his opinion on how well it could be sighted once he had first-hand experience.

However, he was convinced this was the way forward for cricket. "Especially day-night Test cricket, I think that is the future," he said.

The 2017 bronze medallist forms part of Britain’s 40-strong squad for the event in Lisbon

Andrew Butchart is to return to European Cross Country Championships action on December 8 as the 2017 bronze medallist leads Britain’s 40-strong team for the event in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Scot is among 21 selected athletes to have claimed a medal at these championships in the past, including 13 from last year’s edition in Tilburg.

Butchart is joined in the senior men’s squad by trials winner and 2016 team gold medallist Ben Connor, who also returns to the Euro Cross fold for the first time since 2017, while Adam Hickey makes his first Euro Cross team since 2015, having been Britain’s youngest ever male medallist at the championships in 2004 when he was aged 16.

British trail and mountain runner Tom Evans earns a first GB cross country vest, while Patrick Dever and orienteer Kristian Jones complete the team.

In the senior women’s squad, trials winner Jess Judd gains her first senior individual Euro Cross vest and goes in search of a seventh championships medal. She will be joined by the in-form Charlotte Arter and nine-time Euro Cross medallist Kate Avery, who both took team silver last year in Tilburg, plus Amy Griffiths, Abbie Donnelly and Jenny Nesbitt.

The team of Alex Bell, Jonathan Davies, Sarah McDonald and James McMurray will look to regain the mixed relay title which GB last won in 2017.

The under-23 selections include Mahamed Mahamed, who makes an appearance in his fifth successive Euro Cross team, with Bronwen Owen earning a first British vest since the 2015 European U20 Championships. Trial winners Matt Willis and Saskia Millard lead the junior selections.

Team leader Rob Denmark said: “Off the back of yet another extremely competitive trial event in Liverpool, we are fortunate to be able to name an incredibly strong team to travel to Lisbon for the European Cross Country Championships.

“The team that we are taking contains a good level of experience across all age groups at these championships and on the international stage, which will hopefully set us up to contend for individual and team medals once again.”

GB team

Senior men
Andrew Butchart
Ben Connor
Patrick Dever
Adam Hickey
Tom Evans
Kristian Jones

Senior women
Charlotte Arter
Kate Avery
Abbie Donnelly
Amy Griffiths
Jess Judd
Jenny Nesbitt

U23 men
Emile Cairess
Mahamed Mahamed
Euan Makepeace
John Millar
Sol Sweeney
Alex Yee

U23 women
Eleanor Bolton
Cari Hughes
Hannah Nuttall
Bronwen Owen
Amelia Quirk
Poppy Tank

Junior men
Hamish Armitt
Will Barnicoat
Charles Hicks
Zakariya Mahamed
Matt Stonier
Matt Willis

Junior women
Izzy Fry
Cera Gemmell
Megan Keith
Olivia Mason
Saskia Millard
Amelia Samuels

Mixed relay
Alex Bell
Jonathan Davies
Sarah McDonald
James McMurray