As we sit here, only a few days away from Thanksgiving, baseball’s winter meetings haven’t yielded any of the big name splashes that are so highly anticipated this time of year.

Some may argue, that off-season dealings and signings are just as exciting as the regular season. There are winners and losers, emotions run high, anxiety takes hold, while hope and optimism for that one move of destiny consumes the avid fan much like a run at the post-season.

Thus far, the White Sox have been one of the busier teams, which was expected. Meanwhile, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and the perennial “there’s always next year” kings, have not.

Now this may strike some as odd, but rest assured, and I’m speaking to you; unusually optimistic Cub fans–

Behind closed doors the Lovable Losers may very soon be winners. Oh the times they are a’changing.

In celebration of this universal optimism sweeping through Chicago that’s (kind of) saving most of us from dwelling too deeply into the Bears woes, let’s take a look back at Chicago baseball’s best free-agent acquisitions of the 21st century.

Also, before anyone gets all salty that Alfonso Soriano isn’t on this list–

The guy made six straight All-Star appearances before signing with the Cubs. As for his seven year stay in Chicago, he made one. Not exactly worth $136 million.

White Sox

A.J. Pierzynski

The Chicago White Sox signed A.J. Pierzynski as a free-agent on January 6, 2005. Over the course of an eight-year stint (his most with any club) the man known simply as A.J. was a beloved fan favorite and an integral piece of the White Sox World Series champion team of 2005, the club’s first title in 88 years.

In addition to batting compiling 118 home runs, 460 RBI, while batting .279 with a .318 on base percentage; Pierzynski caught Mark Buehrle’s no-hitter on April 18, 2007, however not his perfect game on July 23, 2009. However, he did catch Phil Humber’s perfect game at Safeco Field on April 21, 2012.

In 2006 Pierzynski set a White Sox single season record for hits by a catcher with 150.

He also set an AL record with 962 consecutive errorless chances from April 18, 2005-May 19, 2006, breaking Yogi Berra’s mark of 950 set between 1957-59.

Jermaine Dye

After 11 injury riddled seasons with the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics, Jermaine Dye was signed by the Chicago White Sox to a two-year $10.15 million free-agent contract with a club option for a third year.

For the White Sox, the chance paid off, as Dye went on to have a very successful five-year tenure with the South Side Hitmen, even winning World Series MVP in 2005 when he batted .438 with one home run and three RBI, delivering the series clinching RBI single that ensured a four game sweep of the Houston Astros.

In five years for the Sox, Dye belted 164 home runs, 461 RBI, with a .278 average.

In 2006 Dye had his best season as a professional, finishing second in the AL with 44 home runs, third in slugging at .622, fifth in runs batted in with 120, batted .315, and placed fifth in AL MVP voting.

Esteban Loaiza

Although Esteban Loaiza’s success in Chicago was short-lived, oh how glorious that season of dominance was.

After 12 seasons as a journeyman Loaiza came to the Sox as a free-agent in 2003 and rewarded them by delivering his best career season.

That season, Loaiza made his first All-Star team, led the AL in strikeouts with 207, achieved an ERA of 2.90, all while compiling a record of 21-9; finishing second only to Roy Halladay in that years Cy Young voting.

His 21 wins tied Los Angeles Dodgers’ great Fernando Valenzuela’s 1986 mark for most single season wins by a Mexican national in the MLB.

However, ironic that it was not his on-field success that proved to be most valuable to the Sox but his trade value. Soon after making his second and final All-Star appearance in 2004, the White Sox traded Loaiza to the New York Yankees for Jose Contreras; who would later prove to be a valuable piece of the dominant White Sox World Series pitching staff.

Tadahito Iguchi

After eight-years with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, where Iguchi batted .271 with a .349 OBP, 149 home runs, 507 RBI and 159 stolen bases, the 30-year-old Iguchi signed a two-year, $4.95 million deal with the White Sox in 2005 to become their everyday second baseman.

His stay with the Sox was short but very, very sweet.

In 2005, on his way to helping the White Sox to a World Series title, Iguchi batted .278 with 15 homers, 71 RBI, and 15 stolen bases, finishing fourth in the AL rookie of the year voting.

He even had a clutch moment in the ALDS that year, hitting a two-out, go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning of Game 2 against the Boston Red Sox.

Also, despite having terrific offensive numbers for a second baseman, the unselfish Iguchi finished third in the American League in sacrifice hits in 2005.

In 2005, Iguchi became the first Japanese born player to win the World Series.

Jose Abreu

This guy is just the latest Cuban defector to go bonkers with his bat in the Major Leagues.

Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, and now Jose Abreu; who lucky for the White Sox may be the best of them all.

After signing a six-year deal which now seems to be a steal at $68 million; Jose Abreu completely smashed most of the White Sox rookie records en route to being named an All-Star, SIlver-Slugger, and unanimous AL rookie of the year.

Abreu had a .317 batting average with 37 homers, 107 RBI, 80 runs scored, and a major league leading .581 slugging percentage.

Cubs

Moises Alou

The arrival of Moises Alou on the North Side formed the most formidable one-two punch the Cubbies had seen in years with he and Slammin’ Sammy in the middle of the order.

In three years with Chicago, Alou posted a batting average of .283, while hitting 76 home runs with 258 runs batted in during that span.

His best year in Cubbie blue came in his final season with the team, where he hit .293 with 39 homers and 106 RBI.

Despite his success with the team, Alou is unfortunately best remembered for being that guy that got “the ball” stolen from him.

Ryan Dempster

After being released by the Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs signed Ryan Dempster as a free-agent in 2004.

After completing his rehab for a surgically repaired shoulder, Dempster started six games in 2005 before replacing LaTroy Hawkins as the Cubs’ closer.

Dempster took advantage of this, completing 33 of 35 saves (best save percentage in the NL that year) and becoming the first Cubs pitcher and only the third pitcher ever to both start a game and record 30 plus saves in a season.

He also tied a club record, converting 19 straight save opportunities, and his stretch of 21 1/3 straight scoreless innings were the most by a Cubs reliever since 1989.

In nine season with the Cubs Dempster, remained perhaps their most reliable arm, posting 67 wins, 87 saves, 1, 182 innings pitched, with a 3.74 ERA.

Mark DeRosa

After a breakout year for the Texas Rangers, the Cubs took a chance on Mark DeRosa to be their every day second baseman of the future.

Who knew that on November 14, 2006, that investment would yield not only a second baseman, but a jack of all trades.

During his short stint in Chicago, DeRosa played virtually every position on the field besides catcher and center field.

In his two years on the North Side, DeRosa averaged .289 batting, with 31 dingers, and 159 runs batted in.

The best statistical year of his career came in 2008, when he hit 21 home runs to go along with 87 RBI and 103 runs scored.

However, despite those numbers, the Cubs decided to trade him for relief pitchers John Gaub and Jeff Stevens.

Ted Lilly

Another great Cubs signing from 2006 was Ted Lilly.

The veteran left-hander came to Chicago after stops in Montreal, New York, Oakland, and Toronto and had the best four-year stretch of his career; making the second and final All-Star appearance of his career as Cubs’ lone representative in 2009.

In his first three years with the Cubs Lilly amassed a record of 44-26 and averaged a 3.70 ERA as a starter in Chicago.

Lilly was traded during the 2010 season to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Ryan Theriot for Blake DeWitt and prospects.

Jim Edmonds

After being released from the San Diego Padres after posting a paltry line of .178 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI through 26 games; former St. Louis great Jimmy Edmonds was signed by the enemy to fill a huge hole at center field.

The acquisition of Edmonds would end up being arguably the best bang-for-buck signing in team history as he posted a line of .256, 19 HR, 49 RBI, all for the low price of $300, 000.

Without the signing of Edmonds it’s possible the Cubs would not have made their second consecutive trip to the postseason in 2008.