Hot Stove Lunch: Red Sox strive for continuity in minors; Yankees keeping close eye on cap 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, the Red Sox announced their minor league managerial and coaching assignments for 2018 and there were very few changes.

That's a good thing. Ideally, teams strive for continuity in their minor league system. That provides some familiarity for the players and helps guarantee strong communication with the Baseball Operations staff.

And though there have been well-documented difficulties in developing pitching prospects, the Red Sox' minor league system continues to provide a steady stream of homegrown position players to the big league club.

Kevin Boles returns for his fifth season as manager at Triple A Pawtucket, joined by coaches Bruce Crabbe and Rich Gedman. At High A Salem, manager Joe Oliver will be back for his third season. For the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, Tom Kotchman (father of Casey) is about to start his fifth season.

The Sox will have a new manager at Double A Portland (Darren Fenster), who replaces Carlos Febles. Febles was promoted to the major league staff and will serve as Alex Cora's third base coach. Fenster had managed at Single A Greenville the last four seasons, so this represents another internal promotion.

Taking Fenster's spot at Greenville will be Iggy Suarez, who managed at Lowell the last two seasons.

There are a couple more coaching changes, but those, too, are the result of filling some vacancies by promoting from within.

AL EAST

As the Yankees strive to stay under the luxury cap, Ken Davidoff writes, they'll have to watch every dollar.

John Harper examines what it is that attracts the Yanks to Gerrit Cole.

What will the Orioles do without Zach Britton for the first half of the season?

The Blue Jays would seem to have an interest in OF Christian Yelich, but it takes two teams to make a deal

AL CENTRAL

The Indians are limited by what they can spend, but Paul Hoynes offers 15 affordable free agent choices

A check-up on how some Tigers prospects are performing in winter ball.

A former Twins star is rejoining the team as a special assistant in the front office.

AL WEST

The Angels added a veteran catcher

The Texas Rangers are trying to decide how to best utilize Matt Bush -- as a starter or reliever?

With Dallas Keuchel headed for free agency after next season, the Astros are planning ahead.

NL 

Do the Chicago Cubs have a three-year offer on the table for Lorenzo Cain?