Roto Snips

[DOUGHBOYS]

I don't usually do Roto Snips till Spring Training, but this one was enjoyable on several levels.

'Matt Adams was able to put on muscle and eliminate fat by changing his offseason regimen.
"I leaned up a little bit," said Adams. "I just got stronger and hopefully quicker." That's good to hear after Adams' injury-marred 2015 campaign. The hope is that Adams' improved mobility will earn him more reps at first base. Adams is also working to hit the ball with power to left-center field, which will help him against the shift.;

They're not even waiting till Spring Training to be in the best shape of their lives anymore?
Can't wait for the tweets about staying away from the turkey gravy and Christmas candy.

Matt Adams is getting quicker.
Like bredding turtles to race.
Does anybody really notice the uptick?

Adams NEEDS to get stronger. A disappointment in power since coming to the Majors.
Working on hitting left center?
How about working on..... over the right field fence?
A shift is usually put on power hitters.
If not a power hitter, and changing a stroke to go the opposite field, the shift has won.
Uh, even with that increased quickness.

[KJ Duke]

Notable: Angels signed RHP Yunesky Maya to a minor league contract.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Notable: Angels signed RHP Yunesky Maya to a minor league contract.

Sombitch! Isn't that guy out of baseball yet!?!

$15 I'll never see again!

[Yah Mule]

Yuniesky Betancourt is still only 33 years old. If some team needs a guy to hit below league average, steal bases at a 50% success rate and field multiple positions poorly, I believe he could be pried away from the Toros de Tijuana.

[Edwards Kings]

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Rockies have entered the mix for Yovani Gallardo.

Gallardo is the top remaining free agent starter, and it sounds like his market is finally picking up some steam. Heyman reported Wednesday night that the Astros and Orioles have also expressed recent interest in the 29-year-old right-hander, who posted a cool 3.42 ERA in 184 1/3 innings last season for the Rangers. His free agency is linked to draft pick compensation because he rejected a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from Texas in early November. He's probably looking for something close to the five-year, $70 million deal that Ian Kennedy signed with the Royals.

Line for Colorado Rockie Gallardo...bidding starts at $20....

[Yah Mule]

Gallardo is aging like a vampire who's been exposed to sunlight. If Boras can talk anybody into giving up a first round pick and $70 million for that guy, he's a certified warlock.

[Big League Wood]

Fat Adams was working out with...



Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters at a press conference Thursday that Pablo Sandoval has dropped 20-22 lbs. since the end of the 2015 season.

Oh, this storyline again. Sandoval was a major disappointment in his first year with Boston, batting just .245 with a .658 OPS and 10 home runs in 126 games. Maybe a fitter physique will help, though off-field and on-field inconsistency has plagued the 29-year-old third baseman throughout his major league career and that is probably going to continue. Sandoval is owed $72.4 million from the Red Sox over the next four seasons.

[Edwards Kings]

Yasiel Puig indicated Tuesday that he took Dodgers president Andrew Friedman's advice to lose some weight and estimates that he currently checks in at 240 pounds.

Puig was listed at 255 pounds last season, which Friedman said last month "may not be the optimal size for him to play 150 games, 150-plus games." The Cuban outfielder doesn't believe that it led to his struggles and injuries last season, but he worked over the winter to make a change. "You're right, he did suggest I lose a few pounds, for that exact reason," Puig explained through a team official. "For me, I don't see the correlation between weight and how well one plays baseball, or how that affects one or the other. However, of course, I'm taking him up on that suggestion. Everyone else has encouraged me to do the same. But really, I don't see much correlation." Bothered by hamstring injuries, Puig batted just .255 with 11 homers and a .758 OPS over 79 games last season.

Worth repeating..."For me, I don't see the correlation between weight and how well one plays baseball, or how that affects one or the other. However, of course, I'm taking him up on that suggestion. Everyone else has encouraged me to do the same. But really, I don't see much correlation."



So this would be Puig at his ideal playing weight?

[MadCow Sez]

Yasiel Puig indicated Tuesday that he took Dodgers president Andrew Friedman's advice to lose some weight and estimates that he currently checks in at 240 pounds.

Puig was listed at 255 pounds last season, which Friedman said last month "may not be the optimal size for him to play 150 games, 150-plus games." The Cuban outfielder doesn't believe that it led to his struggles and injuries last season, but he worked over the winter to make a change. "You're right, he did suggest I lose a few pounds, for that exact reason," Puig explained through a team official. "For me, I don't see the correlation between weight and how well one plays baseball, or how that affects one or the other. However, of course, I'm taking him up on that suggestion. Everyone else has encouraged me to do the same. But really, I don't see much correlation." Bothered by hamstring injuries, Puig batted just .255 with 11 homers and a .758 OPS over 79 games last season.

Worth repeating..."For me, I don't see the correlation between weight and how well one plays baseball, or how that affects one or the other. However, of course, I'm taking him up on that suggestion. Everyone else has encouraged me to do the same. But really, I don't see much correlation."



So this would be Puig at his ideal playing weight?

Think that's Pablo Sandoval in the photo

[Edwards Kings]

Not quite, but I can understand the confusion...

[Yah Mule]

John Kruk in Back to the Future IV.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I love the picture. The kid doesn't even need to be in it.
The infamous black tape we used to 'fix' broken bats.
The lot with not a blade of grass.
The fence ravaged, still suitable as 'the fence'.
Or, in this case a 'backstop', since the bottom of the fence seems to be relenting to the balls that have struck.
The woolen uniform in the middle of summer tells me that this had to be a cool day.
Otherwise, we'd be seeing sweat.
The cap, offering no relief from the sun's rays to eyes. Non- glove hand doing that.
The shoes, only serviceable
The plate barely visible, showing us that the kid really is a lefty, even though he 's gripping the bat only for the photographer.
Love early 1900 pictures...and before the jokes fly, no, I wasn't there

[Edwards Kings]

Miguel Cabrera said Tuesday that this offseason was "the first time in three years I worked out normally."
"It was exciting for me," Cabrera added. The two-time MVP has battled a few ailments the last couple years, leading to still-great but un-Miggy-like numbers. He'll turn 33 in April and it's possible his best power days are behind him, but Cabrera is still among the best hitters in the game and being able to go through his normal offseason routine can't hurt.

News or noise?

[Edwards Kings]

Mike Trout said Wednesday that he would like to steal more bases in 2016.
Music to fantasy owners' ears. Trout was just 11-for-18 in stolen base attempts last season and said that his confidence was down on the basepaths. He'd like to change that in 2016, but we wouldn't expect him to say anything different. Keep in mind that he said the same thing last February. Even with the drop in the stolen base department over the past two seasons, Trout remains the safe choice as the No. 1 pick in most fantasy leagues.



"I am Mike Trout and I am going to steal more bases...yeah...yeah...that's the ticket!"