Hot Stove Lunch: Red Sox willingness to wait may pay off; Cole in Yanks' stocking? 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 late, great Tom Petty used to sing: "The waiting is the hardest part.'' And so it is for Red Sox fans, eager for news of a significant addition to the Red Sox roster this winter.

But perhaps there's a wisdom in the team's deliberate approach. Most of the marquee free agent names -- including J.D. Martinez -- are still unsigned as the Christmas weekend approaches. Moreover, so many big market teams -- the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants and others -- are seemingly determined to remain under the luxury tax threshold, the better to reset their rate for next winter, when Free Agent-palooza begins.

It's been speculated by a number of national writers in recent days that some free agents run the risk of seeing their markets shrivel -- or disappear altogether -- by the inactivity of so many big-market clubs. Who, for instance, is going to compete with the Red Sox for someone like Martinez? Not any of the four teams listed above, it would appear.

Other teams -- Phillies, Cardinals, Mets, Angels -- fall into other categories. Some aren't ready to win, some have already made their big moves and some don't have the payroll flexibility to be in on big-ticket players.

To be sure, agent Scott Boras is a master at creating a market. He often appeals directly to owners when he feels restricted by general managers. And there's always the possibility of a patented "mystery team'' emerging from the pack.

But for now, the Red Sox' willingness to wait seems like the right call.

AL EAST

The Yankees appear closer to obtaining Gerrit Cole in a deal with the Pirates

Zach Britton, who ruptured his Achilles earlier this week, had surgery to repair the problem Thursday.

Now that Evan Longoria has been traded, what's next for the Rays? Marc Topkin attempts to provide answers.

AL CENTRAL

The Minnesota Twins have an interest in old friend Mike Napoli.

AL WEST

A young Astros pitcher is hoping to bounce back from Tommy John surgery

NL

The Mets have brought back Omar Minaya.

Yoshihisa Hirano, a Japanese reliever, has signed with Arizona.

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH:

On a national level, Dick Enberg was more associated with football, basketball and tennis. But having served as the play-by-play voice of both the Angels and, more recently, the Padres, he did his share of baseball over a long, distinguished career.

Enberg passed away at 82 on Thursday and was as much a gentleman as you could ever meet. He was humble, unassuming and kind, and a terrifically accomplished -- and understated -- broadcaster. I was fortunate enough to be at Cooperstown when he was given the Ford C. Frick Award in 2015 and on occasion over the years, interviewed him a few times.

To think, for a period in the 1970s and 1980s, baseball fans in southern California had Enberg and Vin Scully calling play-by-play for their two local franchises.

Oh, my.