Hot Stove Lunch: Big contracts often mean big trouble; Yanks may not be done; 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

In the New York Post, Joel Sherman offers another explanation for why the free agent market is going so slowly: teams are finally understanding how inefficient big-money free agent deals are.

Sherman notes that 14 active players are signed to free agent deals that average $20 million or more and are worth $100 million or more over the life of the deals. Of those, just two are judged to be good value: Jon Lester and Max Scherzer.

The rest, including the Red Sox' David Price, are now considered bad investments.

All of which is a sobering reminder that free agency often results in lousy value over the long-term. Sometimes the deals go sour as a player ages. Sometimes, they turn sour because of injuries. And sometimes, as is the case with Jason Heyward, they're bad right from the start.

All of which serves as a cautionary tale as the Red Sox continue to debate the merits of a long, expensive contract for someone like J.D. Martinez. Sure, Martinez would give the Red Sox the power bat they desperately need. But what about four years from now? Or six?

AL EAST

The Yankees issue a warning: we may not be done adding to the roster.

Could the Orioles have handled the Manny Machado differently?

The Blue Jays are one of the teams bidding for Pirates infielder Josh Harrison

AL CENTRAL

Rusty Kuntz is moving from the first base coach's box to another role for the Royals.

After a disappointing 2017, Leonys Martin is hoping for a bounce-back season with the Tigers.

AL WEST

Jose Altuve continues to pick up some hardware.

Joey Gallo has a newfound gift this off-season: confidence.

NL

This happened earlier in the week, but it's worth revisiting: a Diamondbacks prospect gave his parents a special Christmas gift.

TAKE I MAY REGRET IN A MONTH

Expansion, it seems, may be coming to Major League Baseball.

The issue was first broached back in October and came up again this week in a Baseball America interview with minor league president Pat O'Conner.

On the one hand, baseball, with its global appeal, could make the claim that there's enough world-wide talent to stock 50 more roster spots. And baseball last expanded 20 years ago. Since that time, many other pro leagues have seen fit to expand.

But MLB needs to get the process right. It must choose the markets carefully, make sure there's enough support for the new teams, and give the new franchises a chance to be competitive. It can't be all about lining the pockets of current owners with cash generated by the expansion process.