Hot Stove Lunch: Doug Fister's departure means Red Sox need rotation insurance; No manager, no problem for Yanks and more

This is a new daily BSJ off-season feature that will arrive in time for your lunch, Monday-Friday.

A spin around the leagues with the latest news, notes, and rumors around Major League Baseball:

RED SOX

We don't know who the Red Sox will have lined up to provide depth for the starting rotation. But after Sunday, we know who it won't be: Doug Fister.

Fister filled that role nicely for the Sox in 2017, and even earned a post-season start. But he agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal over the weekend with the Texas Rangers, with an option for 2019. Evan Drellich of NBCSports Boston has the details.

Fister proved to be a useful, affordable pickup when the Sox claimed him off waivers last spring. His numbers weren't eye-popping (5-9, 4.88), but for a stretch there, Fister was perhaps the Red Sox' most reliable starter. From mid-August through mid-September, he was 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA.

The Sox don't have any proven candidates in-house to compete for the depth starter spot. It's clear that Henry Owens isn't the answer and it's reasonably certain to project that Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez aren't either.

The problem the Sox will have is that — counting Eduardo Rodriguez (who won't be ready to start the season after undergoing off-season knee surgery) — they already have six established major league starters. Depth guys want to go somewhere they can compete for a spot in the rotation. In Boston, that's not (immediately) available.

Still, there are candidates out there: Bud Norris, Scott Feldman, and Miguel Gonzalez are among those who might fit what the Sox are looking for.

I think the most intriguing player is Chris Tillman, who is reportedly seeking a one-year deal to re-establish himself before going back on the market again next winter. Tillman had a nightmarish 2017 season (1-7, 7.84), but that looks like an outlier. Tillman has been successful in the AL East and has pitched well against the Sox (10-4, 3.03 in 21 career starts).

He may be looking for a better fit as his one-year landing spot, but it couldn't hurt the Sox to inquire.

Again, coming off the long holiday weekend, the links are a bit light today. (That much was evident when Fister's signing was the most noteworthy baseball news over the weekend). This week should see an uptick in activity.

For now...

AL EAST

The New York Yankees are the only team currently without a manager in place, but they don't anticipate that will be an issue in their efforts to land Shohei Ohtani.

The Tampa Bay Rays figure to be active this off-season, with a chance of a total rebuild. Already, Marc Topkin reports, the Rays are fielding offers for starting pitcher Jake Odoroizzi and closer Alex Colome.

AL CENTRAL

Early in the free agent process, former Cleveland Indians reliever Bryan Shaw is already receiving interest. It should surprise no one that one of the clubs interested is the New York Mets, managed by Shaw's former pitching coach in Cleveland: Mickey Calloway.

AL WEST

Some teams have barely publicly acknowledged the existence of Shohei Ohtani (and good morning to you, Dave Dombrowski). Then there's Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, who almost shouted his interest in the Japanese star from the top of Mt. Rainier.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

A Milwaukee Brewers minor league infielder was shot in his native Venezuela. Tom Haudricourt has the details.

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A FEW MONTHS:

I was more bemused than annoyed by the Joe Morgan letter to Hall of Fame voters last week in which Morgan implored us to keep PED-linked players out of Cooperstown. It wasn't exactly game-changing for me, and as I noted last week, I found the letter to be oddly-timed (why now?) and full of hypocrisy (what about Morgan's support for Pete Rose?). But I also don't understand how a respected baseball writer like Jeff Passan could give up his vote in response to Morgan's missive. What does one have to do with the other?