Hot Stove Lunch: Could Red Sox strategy of being patient help them re-sign Craig Kimbrel?

Buster Olney of ESPN suggests that the Red Sox may be playing the waiting game with closer Craig Kimbrel.

Kimbrel is said to be seeking a six-year deal, one worth nine figures ($100 million) or more, but to date, hasn't found any suitors. There are teams interested in Kimbrel, of course, but not for that price -- at least not yet.

Olney posits that the Sox may be hoping that a soft market may result in Kimbrel still being available to the Sox later in the winter, at a discount -- maybe something in the neighborhood of three years, $51 million.

Olney suggests the absence of any big market team searching for a closer and Kimbrel's shaky second half have combined to limit the number of interested clubs.

This strategy of waiting out a big-name free agent worked well for Dave Dombrowski last year when the Sox sat tight on J.D. Martinez. Could it work to their benefit again?

Perhaps, but I don't see it happening. I believe some team will step up and give Kimbrel at least four seasons, and the Sox will have to be content with a cheaper alternative on the market.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST 

The Yankees have a mid-week meeting scheduled with Manny Machado.

The Orioles will introduce their new manager today.

The Rays believe they're still in on J.T. Realmuto.

After moving on from Troy Tulowitzki, the Blue Jays have a plan at shortstop.

AL CENTRAL 

There's more work to be done on the pitching staff for the Twins.

Grading what the Tigers did -- and didn't do -- at the winter meetings.

Machado plans a visit with the White Sox today.

Royals manager Ned Yost is already thinking about his lineup.

AL WEST

The Astros have a couple of  free agent hitters under consideration.

Dallas Keuchel would be a good fit for the Angels.

The Rangers may have a trade partner for Mike Minor.

The Mariners made a nice gesture to help some in their community.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Mets finally landed a catcher, but not the one everyone expected.

HOT TAKE THAT I MAY SOON REGRET

The taxman cometh for the Red Sox.

Over the weekend, the Associated Press reported that the Red Sox' luxury tax bill will cost them just under  $12 million for 2018.

The Sox were one of just two teams -- the Washington Nationals were the other -- to go over the luxury tax threshold last season. It marked the ninth time in the 17 years that the tax existed that the Sox have gone over the tax.

For all the attention paid to the tax, $11.9 million wouldn't seem to be a huge amount -- relatively speaking. (There are other disincentives to the tax plan, including the Red Sox losing 10 slots in their first-round pick in next June's amateur draft).

Essentially, the Red Sox paid an average of 28.1 percent tax of all salaries over $197. That number will go up for 2019 (the Sox have conceded they will go way over the threshold again next season), but in the big scheme of things -- and underscoring that it's not my money or yours -- $11.9 million would seem a relatively small price to pay for a World Series championship team.