Hot Stove Lunch: Relievers still waiting on market; Sanchez staying put?

A year ago, the reliever market was the first to come into focus in baseball's offseason.

As position players waited for their asking prices to be met, relievers came off the board quickly, with many getting multi-year contracts.

That hasn't happened this winter. The top free agents -- Andrew Miller, Zach Britton, Craig Kimbrel, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, Jeurys Familia -- are all still on the market.

It stands to reason that the Red Sox will be big players in this market -- eventually. They stand to lose their closer (Kimbrel), who is said to be seeking a six-year deal and set-up man Joe Kelly is also a possibility to depart as a free agent. That would make the Sox players for at least two late-inning options.

Could the market be heating up? The trade of Edwin Diaz from the Mariners to the Mets may re-focus some teams. Clubs who were interesting in landing Diaz -- either with or without Robinson Cano -- now will have to find a reliever elsewhere.

The market could be coming into sharper focus in the next week or so as the winter meetings begin a week from today. It's likely that one or two relievers signing will trigger a domino-like effect, with the relievers quickly signing in their wake.

To me, the best combination for the Sox would be to sign Kelvin Herrera to close and Miller to act as a multi-purpose set-up man, while giving the Sox a power lefty arm.

Elsewhere...

The Yankees have faith in catcher Gary Sanchez

With some money to add to payroll, the Rays are, for a change, thinking big.

The Orioles have a list of managerial candidates.

The Jays have been linked to free agent starter Dallas Keuchel.

AL CENTRAL

The Indians have a catching shortage.

In non-tendering a couple of veterans, the Tigers may have sacrificed some leadership.

The Royals don't appear interested in dealing catcher Salvador Perez.

AL WEST 

What to expect from the Rangers at the winter meetings.

The Angels have a trio of prospects who could make an impact in 2019.

The Mariners continue to make big moves this offseason.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Did the Mets give up too much to get Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz?

HOT TAKE I MIGHT SOON REGRET

The Seattle Mariners currently have the longest absence from the playoffs of any team. They haven't qualified for the postseason since 2001. And now, the road back to the playoffs just got longer.

General manager Jerry Dipoto, just weeks after insisting he wasn't going to tear down the Mariners roster following an 89-win season, has done just that, dealing off  Cano, Diaz, Jean Segura and Alex Colome in the matter of a few days. And there's likely more to come.

Wasn't it only last July that the Mariners looked to be a wild-card entry and a tough out in the playoffs?

Now, it appears the fans in Seattle have a few more years to wait.