Hot Stove Lunch: Red Sox, White Sox may have difficulty working out deal for Abreu; Beltran next in line 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:

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports wrote that the Red Sox and White Sox are in active talks on first baseman Jose Abreu.

The Red Sox' interest in Abreu isn't new, of course. They were in the running for his services back in 2013, but at the last-minute, Abreu signed with the White Sox.

Now, he stands as a potential nice upgrade to the Red Sox' lineup, exactly the kind of power bat the Red Sox are seeking this off-season. And because the two clubs pulled off the huge Chris Sale deal a year ago, they've already done business and the White Sox are familiar with the Red Sox' minor league system.

But that's part of the problem here. Precisely because the White Sox obtained Boston's two best prospects -- Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech -- the Red Sox don't have a lot left to barter. The top end of the minor league system has been pretty well depleted.

And while there's been speculation that the White Sox love Jackie Bradley Jr., he doesn't make a lot of sense here. Abreu has two years remaining of control and the White Sox are looking to stockpile young players for when they're ready to contend in another two or three seasons. Problem is, Bradley is under control for just three more seasons - he's eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.

So that means that the White Sox would be trading off their most valuable asset for a package headed by Bradley, whom they'll control for just one season longer than they would Abreu. What's the point of that?

Maybe the two teams can find some combination of prospects and controllable talent from the major league roster. But it would seem a longshot for now.

AL EAST:

The Yankees interviewed Carlos Beltran for their managerial opening, but Joel Sherman writes that it may have been more than that.

Not surprisingly, the Toronto Blue Jays plan to honor the late Roy Halladay prior to their home opener.

AL CENTRAL:

A Detroit Tigers rookie was honored this week.

AL WEST:

With the contract tender deadline coming Friday, some teams are looking to move players to whom they aren't planning to offer contracts. It appears Mike Fiers is one such player for Houston.

The Oakland A's, always in the market for undervalued talent, signed free agent pitcher Yusmeiro Petit.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Dom Smith, who didn't have a good showing in his second-half call-up, believes he can still have a huge year in his second season -- just like Aaron Judge did.

HOT TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A FEW MONTHS:

You'll hear a lot of breathless reports in the next few days and weeks that Team X is "in on'' Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani, Guess what? Virtually every team is going to be "in on'' Ohtani. To do otherwise would be ludicrous.

It costs nothing to speak to Ohtani and his representatives. Well, that's not exactly true. A team must pay the $20 million posting fee, which would effectively placed in escrow. If Ohtani signs with your team, the $20 million goes to his former team, the Nippon Ham Fighters; if he signs elsewhere, you get your money back.

And this isn't some hugely expensive free agent who will cost nine figures. Nope, the maximum amount Ohtani can get will be $3.5 million --the money the Texas Rangers have left in their international pool. Every other team has less than that to spend.

So, yes your team is "in on'' Ohtani. But remember, so is everyone else's.