Hot Stove Lunch: With return of Eovaldi, Sox can claim best rotation

There's plenty of signings and trades still be made throughout the game -- and that will intensify next week at the Winter Meetings -- but as things stand now, a case could be made that the Red Sox can lay claim to the best starting rotation in the game.

Led by Chris Sale and David Price and including Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez with Steven Wright, the Sox' rotation is deep and accomplished.

Sale is annually a Top 5 Cy Young choice. Price has won a Cy Young and finished second. Porcello, too, won a Cy Young in 2016 and annually contributes 200 or so innings. Eovaldi enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 while Rodriguez, though inconsistent and often injured, has top-shelf stuff.

Who else could challenge the Red Sox at this point? Not the Astros, who stand to lose Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton to free agency. Not Cleveland, which is almost certain to deal either Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer.

The Yankees are strong with a foursome of Luis Severino, CC Sabathia, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka, but lack a legitimate, established guy to round out the rotation. They'll be working on that next week, presumably.

Perhaps the best case could be made for the Washington Nationals, who have Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and newly-signed Patrick Corbin. But the remainder of the rotation (Tanner Roark and Joe Ross) isn't as proven.

For now, it looks like the honors go to the Red Sox. Given the amount of money they're spending on the rotation, that's as it should be.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST 

The Yankees' shopping list for the Winter Meetings is a long one.

Applying a new metric to the 2018 Orioles.

Former Rays manager will find out about the Hall of Fame on Sunday

The Blue Jays are in the market for pitching...and more pitching.

AL CENTRAL

Carlos Carrasco got a contract extension from the Indians.

The Twins signed a short-term solution at second base.

Could the Tigers be a dark horse to sign Bryce Harper?

Newly-acquired Alex Colome in intent on regaining the role of closer.

Here's what the Royals are looking to do at the Winter Meetings.

AL WEST 

Tragedy strikes as two former Astros die in a car crash.

The Angels made a small trade with the Phillies.

Projecting the Rangers payroll for 2019.

Oakland needs some pitchers and catchers.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Cubs closer Brandon Morrow won't be ready for the start of the season.

HOT TAKE I MAY SOON REGRET 

Billy McMillon, announced Friday as the new manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox, may well be a fine choice for the role. He was a major leaguer, has been part of the Red Sox organization for the last 11 seasons, and has plenty of minor league managerial experience.

But am I the only one who thinks the Red Sox might have been better off in hiring Rich Gedman for the job?

Gedman is a Worcester native and grew up about 2,000 feet from where the Red Sox  Triple-A club is constructing its new ballpark there. He spent 13 years in the big leagues -- including 11 with the Red Sox -- and has been a minor league hitting coach at nearly every level of the Red Sox organization.

Gedman also managed five seasons in independent ball before joining the Red Sox system as a hitting coach, so he has at least some managerial experience. He could have served as a great ambassador for the city and the organization.