In free agency, the timing is pretty important, too

We've seen predictions about where some of the key free agents may sign and predictions for the contract values, but one element we would have a hard time predicting is exactly when these contracts will be signed.

The timing of the deals could impact other moves teams make. Take the Orioles, for instance. If they are truly going to be a player for first baseman Chris Davis, they must be prepared first of all to sign a player to a deal in excess of $100 million for the first time.

But what if the Orioles make a strong push for Davis and he still signs elsewhere? And what if that happens and the Orioles also lose out on some of their secondary targets while they wait on Davis?

Often, timing is everything.

In this case, a team must have several different versions of a game plan ready to roll. It can control how much and when it offers contracts, but not if and when players accept them. It's a game where a quick strike is sometimes the way to go and good things sometimes come to those that wait.

Pitchers Max Scherzer and Jon Lester signed the two biggest deals last year. Lester signed with the Cubs on Dec. 14 for six years at $155 million. Max Scherzer signed with the Nationals on Jan. 21 for seven years and $210 million.

In recent years, some big deals have come in both December and January. Robinson Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million deal with Seattle on Dec. 12, 2013. The Yankees signed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka for seven years and $155 million on Jan. 22, 2014. They signed outfielder Jacocby Ellsbury for seven years and $153 million on Dec. 13, 2013.

So it seems a key few weeks is that stretch beginning in early December with the Winter Meetings and running through the first few weeks of the new year.

It's like that kids' game, musical chairs. When the music stops, you hope to have a chair.

A lot of decisions are coming for the Orioles. If they make a big-money offer to Davis and he doesn't accept, will they spend that money elsewhere? Will there still be players left worth spending it on when Davis' D-day comes?

Another ranking: Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports trumps all of those posting free agent rankings. He doesn't just rate the top 50, but he ranks 191 players. Some notables: Davis is No. 3, Matt Wieters No. 10, Wei-Yin Chen No. 15, Travis Snider No. 82, Tommy Hunter No. 102, Bud Norris No. 111, Jeremy Guthrie No. 156, Chris Parmelee No. 163 and Nate McLouth No. 183. Click here for the entire list.

They rebuilt it and people will soon come: The Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds have a new playing surface at Perdue Stadium. Check out their time-lapse video here to see several weeks of work in about one minute.