Hot Stove Lunch: Sox can't depend on Hanley as they seek upgrades; Stanton arrives and more

This is a 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:

On Monday, Dave Dombrowski dismissed the popular notion that the Red Sox could add two big bats this off-season, reminding everyone that with a healthy Hanley Ramirez handling either first or DH -- or splitting time at both -- the Sox wouldn't have room for two middle-of-the-order bats.

(Dombrowski's comments immediately brought to mind the late, great Lou Gorman, who failed to make a deal for Willie McGee in the 1980s, asking: "Where would we play him?'' But that's for another day....).

Ramirez underwent left shoulder surgery soon after the Sox' season was over and the expectation that is that he'll be ready to go for the start of the season. The Sox believe a healthy Ramirez could replicate his 2016 season, when he had a slash line of .286/.361/.505 season and knocked in 111 runs.

But the fact remains that in three seasons with the Red Sox, the last four months of 2016 represent the high-water mark. The rest has been marked by injury, underperformance, and when playing in the outfield, indifference.

It would be great for the Sox to get a bounce-back season from Ramirez. But counting on him to play 150 games and produce an OPS of , say, .850, seems overly optimistic.

There are other reasons not to overspend this winter, arguably. But rejecting the notion out of hand because of Ramirez is not one of them.

AL EAST

George King takes an inside look at the trade that sent Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees and how Stanton stared down the Marlins.

Joel Sherman on Brian Cashman's approach and how that makes the Yankees different.

Stanton is happy to leave the Marlins behind and join a winner, writes Mike Mazzeo

The Orioles haven't begun to address Manny Machado's pending free agency

Marc Topkin updates what the Rays are doing here.

AL CENTRAL

Carlos Santana finds himself a man in demand.

The Tigers are making no secret of their intent to deal second baseman Ian Kinsler

Alan Trammel still can't quite believe he got the call from the Hall.

The Twins are in the market for a closer.

AL WEST

The Rangers have been linked to Matt Harvey, but the deal might not make sense for them, writes Evan Grant.

The Astros are aiming big as they look for starting pitching.

The A's have their eyes on a young Yankee outfielder.

Having lost out on Shohei Ohtani, the Mariners now turn their attention to the bullpen.

NL

The Mets may have already missed their best chance to move Matt Harvey, suggests Ken Davidoff

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH

Longtime umpire Dale Scott has decided to retire after suffering his second concussion in a span of nine months and his fourth in five years. Scott was worried what sort of long-term effect those concussions might have in his later years and didn't want to risk permanent damage.

The wonder is that, more umpires haven't encountered this. Think of all the foul balls off the mask to which umpires are subjected.

It might be wise for MLB to invest in better protection for the umpires before more concussions take place and more quality umpires like Scott are forced to leave the game prematurely.