Hot Stove Lunch: Spending big doesn't always equate with winning big; new homer for "The Cooler?'' 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

The Red Sox are on record this winter that they're willing to go over the luxury tax threshold in order to improve their roster for 2018, and that's a good thing for fans: simply returning the same club from a year ago isn't good enough and the fans who pay some of the highest ticket prices in the game deserve better.

But on Tuesday, came a reminder that a huge payroll doesn't guarantee anything. The Yankees were assessed a penalty for going over for the 15th straight season and it's worth noting that in that 15-year span, they have exactly one (1) world championship - despite paying an aggregate $341 million since the tax was first introduced.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have the game's highest tax bill for the fourth straight season.  They've paid almlost $150 million in overages in the last five seasons. Their last title? 1988.

Other teams who went over the threshold last year: Detroit and San Francisco. Know what else they have in common? They had the two worst records in the game in 2017.

All of which is a reminder that spending a lot isn't an assurance that a team will win big. It's much more important to spend wisely.

AL EAST

The Yankees are mostly sitting out the free agent sweepstakes this winter and more focused on next year's class, writes Joel Sherman.

A look at seven starting pitchers the Yankees could be targeting.

The Rays are expected to make some big deals this winter; yesterday, they made a small one.

The Blue Jays are starting to rebuild their minor league system

A look at what's the latest with Manny Machado

AL CENTRAL

Lou Whitaker can't get any respect. He misses out on the Hall of Fame, and now the Tigers are ignoring the wishes of fans to retire his number

The White Sox -- and the "other'' Chicago team -- are still after Machado.

The Royals' Whit Merrifield spent time on a Japanese game show.

AL WEST

Rangers GM Jon Daniels might have had dinner with Yu Darvish. But they might not have talked contracts.

Oakland is looking for lefty bullpen help.

NL 

Derek Jeter met with some Marlins fans. It didn't go well.

The Mets are in the market for first base help and might take a look at Adrian Gonzalez.

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH:

Among the fans who gathered for a Marlins' Town Hall Tuesday was the infamous "Marlins Man'' -- the guy you've seen in a hideous Marlins jersey, seated conspicuously behind home plate at games all over the country.

He's a wealthy businessman who has the money to travel, attend sporting events and not incidentally, get himself on TV a lot. Fine.

But Tuesday, he took his act to a whole new level, asking CEO Derek Jeter: "Do you know who I am?'' and "warning'' Jeter that he might not provide the franchise with free publicity any more.

It says everything about the lousy state the Marlins find themselves in that this clown is perhaps more well known than three-quarters of the Marlins' current 25-man roster.