Hot Stove Lunch: Would Jose Abreu fix what ails Red Sox? Also, Yanks start to zero in 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

Forget, for a moment, the difficulty the Red Sox and White Sox may have in putting together a deal involving Jose Abreu — how the Red Sox don't have the high-end prospects the White Sox appear to be seeking, and how Jackie Bradley Jr., long-coveted by the White Sox, may not make sense since he's under control for just three more seasons.

Instead, let's turn to a more basic question: is Abreu a cure for what ails the Red Sox?

The Sox, as you may have heard once or twice, finished dead last in home runs during the 2017 season, a distinction that would have seemed unimaginable for Red Sox teams in the past. Simply put, given how the game is trending, the Sox desperately need someone who could hit the ball out of the ballpark.

Abreu seemingly fits that bill. He's hit 124 homers over his first four years in the big leagues.

But let's look closer. Abreu hit 33 homers last season for the White Sox, an impressive number at first glance and a figure that would have easily led the Red Sox last season (Mookie Betts led the 2017 Sox with 24 homers).

But 21 players in the majors hit more than 33 homers last season. Put another way, on average, more than two-thirds of the teams would have had someone who hit more homers than Abreu did.

And there's this: Abreu has called Guaranteed Rate Field (has a real ring to it, doesn't it?) home the last four years, a ballpark which is considered one of most hitter-friendly ballparks in the big leagues.

Let's go back to 2016 when Abreu hit 25 homers. Know how many players hit more than he did that season? Fifty-six, including, oh the irony, Bradley, who finished with 26.

All of which isn't to suggest that Abreu wouldn't be a nice addition to the middle of the Red Sox lineup. Perhaps surrounded by a better offensive cast, his homer numbers would increase. But to cast Abreu as some sort of gigantic home run threat, directly addressing the Red Sox' most obvious need, may be a mistake.

AL EAST

Dan Duquette takes a look at his Baltimore Orioles and some key issues for this off-season.

No more interviews, please - we have a winner. Yanks GM Brian Cashman announced that he's finished interviewing candidates for the Yankees' managerial vacancy and will make his recommendation(s) to ownership.

It seemed only a matter of time before one of these stories emerged in sports broadcasting. It happened in Toronto.

This week has seen a number of trades as teams deal off players before tonight's contract tender deadline. The Rays shipped out reliever Brad Boxberger.

AL CENTRAL

Like a lot of teams, the Indians are sorting through potential non-tenders. Paul Hoynes takes a look at some candidates.

Former Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure has been hired by the Minnesota Twins to serve as a pitching consultant.

The Kansas City Royals mull over some non-tender possibilities on their roster.

Like virtually every other team, the Detroit Tigers are in the market for pitching.

AL WEST

The Los Angeles Angels picked up reliever Jim Johnson in a deal with Atlanta, but they had other priorities in mind when they made the trade.

Larry Stone makes the case for former Mariners Edgar Martinez belonging in the Hall of Fame.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Is there some real traction on a deal that would send Giancarlo Stanton to the San Francisco Giants? It would seem so.

TAKE THAT I MAY REGRET IN A FEW MONTHS:

If Stanton is traded sometime soon -- to the Giants or elsewhere -- it could produce a nicely-timed domino effect with the winter meetings just 10 days away. With the Big Fish out of the way, teams who miss out will begin seeking answers to their offensive shortcoming with more urgency -- just in time for free agents signings and trades as the meetings get underway.