Chris Davis, Jason Heyward headline next wave of MLB action

It was the supposed to be the week everyone made their trades, spent all their money and traveled home for the holidays with their shopping done.

This year’s annual winter meetings turned out to produce little more than stocking stuffers, with nothing under the tree.

While everyone went scrounging for pitchers, the biggest names in the free agent field are standing by waiting for your calls.

The only marquee free agent position player to come off the board was second baseman Ben Zobrist, who signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. Slugger Chris Davis was offered $150 million over seven years to stay with the Baltimore Orioles, but by the time the meetings ended, the offer was off the table.

Then again, if he decides to accept the Orioles’ proposal, that offer will come right back on the table.

“This was all about pitching,’’ said Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart, who in a matter of five days, signed premier free agent starter Zack Greinke, acquired front-line pitcher Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves, and appeared to be on the verge of signing free agent starter Mike Leake. “The market blew up, that’s for sure.

“It is a good time to be an agent. I was making more money (as an agent).

“And sleeping more, too.’’

Ah, sleep, who had time for it?

Atlanta Braves GM John Coppolella told ESPN that he didn’t sleep for a single second the entire meeting.

Nothing figures to change now these next two weeks until the holiday season.

Too many teams still have holes to fill. Too many premier players still are unsigned. Too much money that hasn’t been spent.

“In the ice cream sandwich of markets,’’ agent Scott Boras said, “you have your boundaries, and then you have all the vanilla in the middle. It's pretty hard to get to the vanilla unless you get to the chocolate on the outside. Either they start at the bottom or they start at the top.

“Usually, that's how these things work.”

Well, OK.

In this case, it starts with 26-year-old free agent outfielder Jason Heyward. He’s being heavily courted by the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, and Chicago Cubs. Once he signs, we could have a flurry of activity that makes your head spin.

“It’s not that there’s not quality position players out there,’’ Minnesota Twins assistant GM Rob Anthony said, “it’s just that teams have focused on their pitching needs. When a few pitchers went off the board, then things really start moving

“It could have easily been the reverse with position players coming off the board. It’s just like the draft. When a catcher is taken, all of a sudden, there is a run of catchers. You say, ‘Oh, shoot. They’re starting to go. I better get one.’”

Once Heyward signs, you can be assured that Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes and Alex Gordon will soon follow in a matter of days.

Yet, even with an industry worth that generates nearly $10 billion, there won’t be enough money for everyone. Someone will be left out in the cold, and perhaps sitting out until spring training, waiting for a team to panic.

Will it be Cespedes, who appears to have lost his appeal to his former teams, the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers? How about second baseman Daniel Murphy, who watched the Mets sign two infielders to replace him in Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker? Or Davis, if the Orioles really call his bluff?

“You’re going to see a lot of things done before the holidays,’’ Anthony said. “Players want to know where they’ll be, and teams will want to know where they stand. December is action month, but it really slows down after the holidays.’’

The Cincinnati Reds, who are aggressively shopping third baseman Todd Frazier, certainly wish they knew where they stood with All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. They came into the winter meetings vowing to trade him before they departed Nashville. They left town having no idea whether he’ll be with them when the season starts, traded, or suspended.

A police report alleging that he choked his girlfriend, shoved her, and fired eight shots in the air, has a way of derailing the best of plans.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who had agreed to send the Reds two prospects, have now backed off. The Reds still are confident they can trade him, but their second-best trading partner, the Houston Astros, solved their bullpen depth with the acquisition of Ken Giles of the Phillies and signing of Tony Sipp.

And, of course, there is the never-ending saga of Miami Marlins starter Jose Fernandez, the best starter on the market.

The Marlins publicly declared he wasn’t available, but then listened to offers all week, and nearly traded him to the Diamondbacks before they acquired Miller. They will continue to listen to offers, and are asking for a Herschel Walker-sized package, but perhaps only the Dodgers would be tempted to do it.

“I can understand why clubs would kick the tires on Jose,’’ said Marlins president Michael Hill. “He’s one of the best pitchers in the game that you can control for three years. It’s not like the free-agent market when everyone you talk to says they want five or six years, and $20 million a year.

“That’s the reason we get the calls. And when someone calls, you listen. If someone wants to overwhelm you and do something, you have to listen, but it’s not something we’re looking to do.’’

Then again, that’s what everyone was saying as they left the Opryland Resort.

Check back tomorrow.

“There’s still a lot more to do done for all teams,’’ Stewart said. “I’m sure there will be some deals that will be made the next few days, and over the next few weeks.

“That may happen to us as well.’’

The winter meetings may be over, but stay tuned.

We’re just getting started.

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