Hot Stove Lunch: Red Sox in danger of being left out on reliever market

If you're keeping score at home, the free agent bullpen options are dwindling for the Red Sox.

Gone are: Joakim Soria, Jeurys Familia, Andrew Miller, Joe Kelly, and, as of yesterday, David Robertson.

The Red Sox had some interest in Robertson, and he in them. But the Sox weren't willing to match the two-year, $23 million given to him by the Phillies.

Reports have the Yankees zeroing in on a deal for Zach Britton, whom the Sox weren't about to pursue because of his contractual expectations.

So, who does that leave for the Sox? Well, Craig Kimbrel remains on the market, and with the Phillies spending on Robertson, that would seem to take them out on Kimbrel. Increasingly, it's getting harder to see a market for Kimbrel, which, of course, has led to speculation that he could return to the Sox, albeit on a more modest deal than the one he originally sought.

The rest of the free agent relief market is starting to look one of the after-Christmas sale bins: some bargains can still be found, but they come with some risks.

There's Kelvin Herrera, who is recovering from a foot injury and won't be ready to start the season. There's Adam Ottavino, who is probably looking for a deal similar to Kelly, Miller or Robertson, and thus, out of the Red Sox budget. There's Cody Allen, who's coming off his worst season.

In other words, it's starting to look like slim pickings.

Is this any way to stock a bullpen for a title defense?

Elsewhere...

AL EAST

The Yankees are focused on Britton.

The Orioles are trying to get up to speed on the international market.

It's time for the Blue Jays to turn their attention to the bullpen.

Tropicana Field is shrinking.

AL CENTRAL

Danny Salazar won't be ready to start the season for the Indians.

The Twins are doing some renovations to Target Field.

The Tigers might have a tough time getting fair value for one of their veterans.

Manny Machado has an offer from the White Sox.

The Royals have focused on college pitchers in recent drafts. Here's an update on them.

AL WEST 

Even after some free agent losses, the Astros still have the best rotation in the West.

Derek Holland is deciding between the Rangers and Reds.

The A's have an interest in Brett Anderson 

The newest Mariner made a big impression in his introductory news conference.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

It appears as thought the Nationals aren't out on Bryce Harper after all.

HOT TAKE I MIGHT SOON REGRET 

In one of the links above, there's a story about the Tampa Bay Rays closing off the top deck in Tropicana Field to make the ballpark more "intimate.''

Well, that's one word for it.

Here's another: embarrassing.

This latest move -- the second by the Rays in the last few years -- will reduce the major league seating capacity to a cozy 25,000. That hardly suggests ''major league.''

The Rays are annually in the bottom two or three in attendance. They've been unable to find a new home. Only last month, their dreams of moving to the Ybor City section of Tampa were dashed. They're stuck in a poor facility, in a lousy location and with an onerous lease.

Other than that, everything is fine.

At some point, Major League Baseball needs to step in -- and in Oakland -- and help its franchises find proper playing facilities -- either in their present city, or, if necessary, elsewhere.