Author: Unknown

Cincinnati hitters got their second close-up-and-personal look at Cuban lefthander Aroldis Chapman and came away impressed—just like after the first time the youngster threw to live hitters in his first major league training camp.

"When you see a guy like that your first couple of days, it gets a little easier from there," infielder Drew Sutton told MLB.com. "The ball just comes out of his hand different. It gets about halfway and just jumps at you. His changeup had really good spin. You couldn’t pick it up that well. Even his slider, it took a little time to pick up the spin." 

White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy is lobbying general manager Ken Williams to acquire Peavy’s former teammate Adrian Gonzalez, CBS Sports reports.

"I want Adrian to be my teammate over here," Peavy is quoted as saying.

According to the CBS report, Williams doesn’t need much convincing.

"That’s really what we need, a big left-handed hitter," according to one unnamed club source. "They’re saying Kenny would give anything to get him, maybe even (second baseman Gordon) Beckham."

The Padres have made Gonzalez available for some time. The likelihoood of a trade seemed to increase last week when Gonzalez said he wouldn’t take a hometown discount to stay in San Diego. He has one year, at $4.5 million, plus a $5.5 million club option for 2011 remaining on his contract.

The Prince Fielder contract talks will include the highest level of Brewers management. Owner Mark Attanasio tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he will be involved in trying to sign the slugging first baseman to a long-term contract.

Attanasio adds that there will be no deadlines to get a Fielder deal done. "We have to take it one step at a time," he tells the Journal-Sentinel.

The Journal-Sentinel also reports Attanasio met with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin on Saturday to discuss the "process" of talks.

Fielder, 25, can become a free agent after the 2011 season. He will make $11 million this season.
 

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore will drop from the leadoff spot to second in the batting order this season.

Taking his place atop the order will be shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who compiled a .340 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot while filling in for an injured Sizemore last year.

Sizemore has a career .369 OBP batting leadoff, but turned in a .340 mark in the role in 2009.

The newspaper also noted that Matt LaPorta again is a player without a set position. That is because recently signed Russell Branyan is expected to start at first base. As a rookie in 2009, LaPorta played first base, left field, right field and DH.

Free-agent outfielder Jermaine Dye told the Chicago Sun-Times that he is shocked that he still is looking for work in late February.

Dye, the 2005 World Series MVP, said he has received some offers, but none to his liking.

"Teams want me as a backup player, and that’s something I’m not ready to do," Dye told the newspaper. "I feel undervalued, basically. I don’t think I have to go out there and prove anything to anyone. My numbers the last five or six years show I can help someone."

Teams could be concerned about Dye’s second-half slump last season; he hit .179 with seven homers and 26 RBIs after hitting .302 with 20 homers and 55 RBIs before the break.

The 36-year-old also shot down recent rumors that he was considering retirement.

The newspaper noted Dye has more homers than any American League outfielder in the past five years and ranks second in RBIs over that span.

Stephen Strasburg will make his first exhibition start March 9; when will the Nationals’ top prospect make his first regular-season start?

Nats president Stan Kasten isn’t ready to put a date on that. He tells MLB.com that Strasburg and fellow phenim Drew Storen will be promoted "as soon as they can make it up here reliably."

"We will not bring them up sooner than they are able, and we will not leave them down (in the minor leagues) longer than they need to be down there," Kasten adds.

Still, Kasten is eagerly anticipating Strasburg’s spring debut against the Tigers in Viera, Fla.

"You can’t help but be exited and intrigued by all the interest that has surrounded him. Having been down this road a lot in the past, I know when to temper my expectations — to give things time and not to get too excited.

"It’s hard not to get too excited. You are not only watching with your eyes, you are also listening to people who have been in baseball for decades making observations that match what you are seeing.

"If Stephen could carry that forward to the Major Leagues, it will be an exciting time for all of us, especially our fans. We have to keep our fingers crossed."

Strasburg, projected to be the Nats’ future ace, was the first overall selection in the 2009 draft; Storen, the team’s closer of the future, was chosen with the 10th pick.

"This will be my 12th year, so, heck, if I had 11 great years, that would be unusual," he tells the Chronicle. "You’re going to have a couple of years when things don’t go well and last year was one of them. I don’t expect it’s going to have a lasting impact."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, there is speculation that Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano could return to the leadoff spot this season. For that to happen, shortstop Ryan Theriot and right fielder Kosuke Fukudome would have to falter in that role this spring.

Manager Lou Piniella told the newspaper that the plan still is for Soriano to hit lower in the order in an RBI spot. After 2 1/2 seasons at leadoff, Soriano moved to sixth last July, partially because of a slump and partially because of injuries. Soriano admitted earlier this week that his surgically repaired left knee still is giving him problems.

A year after reporting to spring training with a slimmed-down look, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin packed on about 25 pounds this offseason, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Martin told the newspaper he’s up to 231 pounds, and he added that he might add a few more pounds during the season.

The decision to bulk back up came after Martin set career lows with a .250 batting average, seven homers and 53 RBIs in 2009. In fact, he didn’t homer until June 20. In 2007, Martin established career highs in homers (19), RBIs (87) and batting average (.293).

The newspaper reported that the 5-foot-10 Martin’s weight gain didn’t come in the form of fat. Instead, he did more power lifting, did some intense training and was less strict with his diet.

"It’s not like I’m eating pizza every day now," he said. "It’s just that if I have a steak, I’m not afraid to eat a potato with that."