Hot Stove Lunch: In a switch, Cora and Roenicke change roles; Lindor a candidate for extension? 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

Alex Cora and Ron Roenicke first worked together about two decades ago, when Cora was a Dodgers minor league infielder and Roenicke was his manager at Double A. In a few months, they'll be together again in the Red Sox dugout, with Cora now the boss and Roenicke as his trusted sidekick, serving as the bench coach. not long after he was chosen.

Last month, I spoke to Roenicke about his history with Cora. More recently, Ian Browne of MLB.com talked with him recently about their renewed partnership.

As a rookie manager, Cora is going to need an experienced hand in the dugout to guide him through some in-game moves. While the pitching coach is often seen as the most important member of most coaching staffs, in this case, it may well be Roenicke, helping to slow down the game some for a first-year manager.

The two have a long history together and that should the transition for Cora.

AL EAST

Dan Martin takes a look at how obtaining Gerrit Cole would impact the Yankees.

The Orioles need a lot of work on their starting rotation.

Bill Chastain examines the 2017 season of center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

AL CENTRAL

Could the Indians sign shortstop Francisco Lindor to a long-term extension? Paul Hoynes answers these questions and others.

A White Sox minor leaguer is trying to take some things he learned in water polo and apply them to baseball.

AL WEST

Maybe there's hope for the A's -- their farm system was recently judged the most improved in the game.

The Seattle Mariners may have some interest in Arizona lefty Patrick Corbin.

Ken Rosenthal has a riveting story about how Astros' first base coach Rich Dauer nearly died after collapsing during the team's championship parade.

NL

Have the Cardinals made up ground on the Cubs with their busy off-season?

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH:

With all the talk of late about the NFL replay system, perhaps it's time to examine Major League Baseball's, too.

Some adjustments would seem in order. For one, perhaps MLB can change the current rule in which base-stealers (or others sliding into a base) are ruled out when their momentum carries a part of their bodies a fraction of an inch off the bag while a tag is being made. That, clearly, is not what baseball had in mind when replay was introduced.

Something needs to be done about the time some replays take, too. With interest in speeding up pace-of-play, the replay should help overturn poor calls, not lengthen the time of games.