Are you still waiting for that first Big Signing? You're not alone. It has been an incredibly quiet first month in baseball's free-agent season, as some of the game's top talent continues to wait it out on the sidelines.

CC Sabathia? He threw 10 complete games last season, including five shutouts, and almost single-handedly pitched the Milwaukee Brewers into the playoffs. He's been courted by the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and Brewers, but he's still a man without a team.

Mark Teixeira? He's a switch hitter who hit 33 home runs last season and hit a staggering .358 after being traded to the Angels on July 29. He's still sitting out there waiting for a team.

A.J. Burnett? He opted out of a contract with Toronto after leading the American League in strikeouts, and he has yet to be signed.

Manny Ramirez? He only spent two months with the Los Angeles Dodgers, yet got serious MVP consideration in the National League. But December began with Manny teamless.

And on it goes. Derek Lowe. Brad Penny. Adam Dunn. Pat Burrell. Orlando Hudson. Names you would've seen on big-money contracts in the first days of free agency in years past are still looking for a home. Are we going back to the days of collusion among major league teams?

That's unlikely. In this case, it's more about waiting for the first domino to fall. Until Sabathia signs a deal, it's hard for the likes of Burnett or Lowe to find their market value. We know Sabathia has been offered some $140 million by the Yankees, but he prefers pitching on the West Coast or even returning to Milwaukee.

Likewise, position players are waiting to see what Teixeira will make. Ramirez is a pretty good Plan B for big-market teams, but why go there if Plan A is still available. The Red Sox are said to be very much in on Teixeira. And with the Yankees out of the hunt – the trade for Nick Swisher leaves them pretty well set offensively – Teixeira could land in Boston.

In the meantime, the Red Sox quietly have begun tweaking the roster in the hopes of improving on an oh-so-close 2008 season. Ramon Ramirez gives them another late-inning bridge to Jonathan Papelbon, along with the option of moving Justin Masterson back to the rotation or using him in a trade, perhaps for a young catcher – even if Jason Varitek returns for a year or two.

Putting together a bullpen is always a bit of a crapshoot, and the Red Sox already have begun the annual roundup of arms that gives them the depth to make it through a season. Wes Littleton (acquired from Texas for future considerations) joins Dewon Day and Virgil Vasquez (claimed off waivers from Chicago and Detroit, respectively) as newcomers to the 40-man roster.

They might not be players that help sell season tickets, but they are the type of players that can play a role with a contending team (as in, David Aardsma last season).

In the meantime, the wait goes on. The seats are empty, the music is still playing and this high-stakes game of musical chairs continues.

Tom Caron is the studio host for Red Sox broadcasts on the New England Sports Network. His column appears in the Press Herald on Tuesdays.