MLB Roundup 1/2: Now, the offseason can get going again

Let’s pick up the pace with some hot stove action

The holiday season has officially come to an end, with most kids getting ready to head back to school and most adults getting ready to head back to work. Similarly, baseball executives can fit under that second category and get the hot stove moving again. Of course, it never really got moving in the first place, but the pace really took a hit over the last couple of weeks during the holiday season. With just about six more weeks until pitchers and catchers report and most of the top free agents remaining on the board, there’s plenty of work left to do for teams across the league. For the Red Sox, that means continuing their pursue of J.D. Martinez while also shoring up the periphery of their roster. For my own sanity’s sake, let’s hope things really do move quickly from the Red Sox perspective. In addition to Martinez, Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Eric Hosmer, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn remain available among many more talented players.