Hot Stove Lunch: Alex Cora aims for the moon

Talk about setting the bar high.

At the 80th annual Boston Baseball Writers Association Dinner, Alex Cora was unafraid to affix a target to his team.

"You guys might write this somewhere, I don't care,'' Cora noted as he accepted his award as Manager of the Year. "If you thought last year was special wait 'till this year.''

Yikes.

So 108 regular-season wins -- a franchise record -- and an 11-3 postseason steamrolling of the three other best teams in the game wasn't enough?

Say this for Cora: he's hardly complacent.

Some other managers in his position -- coming off a rookie season in the dugout that culminated in a championship -- might be happy to admire his accomplishments and tamp down expectations for a repeat.

Nope. Cora seems intent on pushing his team to match or exceed what they did a year ago. And good for him.

It's hard to envision how that might happen. After all, virtually everything went right for the Sox last year. And they'll need to remain healthy and be a little lucky to come close to that win total again.

The fact that Cora is aiming high, however, is a good sign. If the Sox don't repeat, it won't be for a lack of motivation from their manager.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST 

A good bullpen got better in the Bronx.

Chris Davis has changed up his offseason workout routine.

Tampa Bay picked up a bullpen piece.

The Blue Jays are waiting on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

AL CENTRAL 

Who's on first for the Indians?

A look back at the "other'' Patrick Mahomes and his baseball career.

A closer look at the Tigers' 2019 payroll.

The White S0x-Manny Machado saga drags on.

AL WEST 

Why Collin McHugh is so important to the Astros.

The Angels scooped up Cody Allen

Could a reunion take place for Sonny Gray and the A's?

A breakdown of the Rangers' big trade pieces.

The Mariners have a top prospect at first base.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

The Phillies can dream about this outfield.

HOT TAKE I MAY SOON REGRET

The Yankees' signing of Adam Ottavino gives them a killer bullpen. Ottavino joins Aroldis Chapman, Zach Britton, Dellin Betances and Chad Green.

That's a lot of power arms for the back end, unquestionably. And given the way the game is trending, with more and more innings absorbed by relievers, the Yankees have plenty of late-game options. They'll be tough to beat if they lead after the sixth inning.

But recall that the Yankees have had these star-studded bullpens before, including one season in which they had Chapman, Betances and Andrew Miller. But that didn't get them to the World Series.

On paper, the Yanks' pen looks invincible. But there are other aspects of the game here, too, and the Yankees will need stronger work from their starting rotation in order to hand leads to their deep bullpen.