Hot Stove Lunch: Familiar faces will try to repeat for Red Sox; Kikuchi to be posted

There's still some work to do on the pitching staff, but when it comes to position players, the Red Sox are bringing back virtually their entire roster for 2019.

At this point, the only non-returning member will likely be infielder Ian Kinsler. Barring an unforeseen trade, the Sox will return every starter in the infield, outfield, behind the plate and at DH. That's highly rare at a time when turnover is the norm.

But Brock Holt is happy to see it.

"That's big for us,'' said Holt, who was in Boston Monday night to attend the 2018 World Series highlight film premiere, "knowing that we did it with pretty much who's coming back. Obviously, there's going to be a couple of new additions here and there and hopefully we get some guys back who are free agents. But the more guys we have back from the team that won it, it's kind of like, 'Alright, we did it with this group last year; why can't we do it this year?'

"It's just about us going out and performing and playing our game. What we did last year was pretty special with how consistent we were. We're going to try to win 108 games again, and then to beat the teams we beat in the postseason, it was a special year. It was a special group of guys, too, and that group's coming back. So, that's big for us as far as knowing, 'This is who we did it with; let's do it again.' ''

No MLB team has successfully repeated as champions since the 1998-2000 Yankees. The 2019 Red Sox will have their challenges, but one thing's for certain: there will be no need for introductions in the first week of spring training.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST 

The Yankees intend to target Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi, who will be posted today.

Orioles righthander Yefry Ramirez is intent on improving.

The Blue Jays will have the luxury of payroll flexibility.

The Rays need to make their plans known on a proposed new ballpark.

AL CENTRAL

The Indians are trying to work out an extension for Carlos Carrasco

Some non-tendered players may draw interest from the Tigers.

The long-time trainer of the White Sox is retiring after 40 years.

Could Mike Moustakas be headed back to Kansas City?

AL WEST

Here are three free agents who could help the Astros.

A look at how some Rangers are faring in winter ball.

The Angels completed their coaching staff for 2019

Thanks to the Mariners' rebuild, the A's may benefit in the standings.

With a flurry of deals, Seattle has succeeded in rebuilding its minor league system

HOT TAKE I MIGHT SOON REGRET

Dave Dombrowski has two years to go on his current contract, so there's no immediate sense of urgency there. But if Dombrowski wishes to remain on the job, the Red Sox would be smart to extend him for another couple of seasons.

In three seasons, Dombrowski has overseen a team which has won three straight division titles, then capped all of that with a World Series win in October. In every full season in which Dombrowski has served as president of baseball operations, the Red Sox have won at least 93 games and participated in the postseason.

At 62, Dombrowski still has the energy for the job, and though he arrived in Boston with the reputation of a traditionalist, has grown to embrace analytics and other aspects of the modern game. And while he was criticized for stripping the minor league system, that charge was negated with a title. The Sox appear poised to compete at a high level for at least the next two seasons.