Hot Stove Lunch: Craig Kimbrel still looking for work as spring training near

It's February today. That means that the start of spring training is a little more than a week away for most teams and that regular season games will be played....gulp...next month.

And yet, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remain unsigned. So, too, is Craig Kimbrel.

That would have seemed impossible way back in November when free agency officially began. And yet Kimbrel sits and waits.

The man with the best strikeout-to-walk ratio and lowest batting average against ever for a closer can't find a job.

Maybe that could soon change. Jon Heyman reported that Kimbrel has interest from the Braves, Nationals, Twins, Phillies and Red Sox could be involved.

(The Red Sox' involvement would seem to be perfunctory, as Dave Dombrowski keeps reminding people that the Sox won't have a "big expenditure'' for the closer's spot, seemingly taking Kimbrel out of the mix.).

Nearly every other big-name reliever is off the market, including Andrew Miller, David Robertson, Zach Britton, Adam Ottavino, Kelvin Herrera and others.

Kimbrel has better numbers than all of them, and yet, still has no job.

It's possible that he could take a one-year deal somewhere, then try his luck again on the market next winter. That would be a far cry from last fall when his agent let it be known that his client would be looking for a five- or six-year deal, one that could top $100 million.

It's unclear why Kimbrel hasn't found a market, though it could be tied to the fact that many big-market teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs) have closers already in place. But there are a handful of other contenders (Phils, Astros, Braves) who could use an upgrade in the back end.

Maybe the logjam will break this week. Then again, no one expected it to last this long in the first place.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST

A top Yankee prospect needs to cut down on his strikeouts.

Miguel Castro has a shot at making the Orioles' bullpen.

One name was absent from the Rays' list of non-roster invitees.

A closer look at the Toronto starting rotation.

AL CENTRAL

It would seem that the Indians are holding onto Corey Kluber.

Evaluating the Twins' top prospects.

Here are the Tigers' top 50 prospects.

Checking in on some White Sox players in winter ball.

AL WEST

Wade Miley signed a one-year deal with the Astros.

Shohei Ohtani won't be ready for Opening Day.

The Rangers chose turf over grass for their ballpark.

In need of catching help the A's are looking at Matt Wieters.

Three Mariners cracked a top prospects list.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Nolan Arenado set a new salary arbitration record.

HOT TAKE I MAY SOON REGRET:

Arenado and the Colorado Rockies settled on a $26 million salary for 2019 -- halfway between the player's request of $30 million and the team's filing of $24 million. That establishes a new record for an arbitration-eligible player salary, eclipsing the one held by another third baseman -- Josh Donaldson.

But don't expect that number to stay a record for long.

Mookie Betts will be eligible for salary arbitration once more after the 2019 season and it seems a given that he'll top Arenado. Betts and the Sox settled last month at $20 million for this year and it's impossible to imagine him not leapfrogging at least $6 million more when they try to work out a deal for 2020.