MLB Bullets Is In The Best Shape Of Its Life, Part 2

Good morning, Monday. I already used the "Best Shape Of Its Life" line last time for a headline. So think of this as "The Legend of Curly's Gold."

• The long-rumored deal between the Orioles and Yovani Gallardo has finally come to pass as the two sides agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal with an option for a fourth year.
• Eddie Matz writes that Gallardo is worth the risk for the Orioles, along with the lost draft pick.
• Eduardo Encina has some thoughts about what this means for the Orioles.
• Including the next step. One of the biggest reasons why Gallardo was worth sacrificing a draft pick was that it made the draft-pick price of signing another free agent cheaper, and the Orioles are reportedly talking with former Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler about a two-year, $24 million deal.
• Sad news as former major leaguer Tony Phillips died at age 56. Over at Athletics Nation, Jeremy Koo has a roundup of reactions around the baseball world to Phillips' passing. If you haven't already, please read the memories people have of this very talented and very colorful major leaguer.
• Jeff Passan has another story from Phillips when he talked to him two years ago. A colorful man with a self-admitted foul mouth.
• Andrew Simon explains how good Phillips was.
• Grant Brisbee calls Phillips an "underrated superstar" and compares him to Ben Zobrist. Except Phillips was faster than Zobrist. Other than that, it's a good comparison.
• Ken Rosenthal turns to commissioner Rob Manfred and claims that Manfred is in a "no-win" situation when it comes to enforcing punishment under MLB's new domestic violence policy.
• One report says that Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman could be suspended for Spring Training as part of his punishment under the domestic violence policy.
• Buster Olney say, for God's sake, don't suspend Chapman (or any other player) for Spring Training or otherwise dozens of other players are going to be asking what they can do to get suspended for Spring Training too. (ESPN Insider Only) A Spring Training suspension would be a reward, not a punishment. It would send the wrong message. (Remember, players don't get paid for Spring Training.)
• Ben Badler writes about how despite the changes in Cuba/US relations, the road for Cuban players to reach the majors remains secretive and confusing.
• And possibly illegal. Agent Bart Hernandez has been indicted on human trafficking charges in connection with the defection Leonys Martin.
• When asked about MLB expansion, Manfred said that it's a long-term goal but stadium issues in Oakland and Tampa Bay would have to be solved first. So you're saying never?
• Speaking of major league expansion, Pablo Sandoval. [rimshot]. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Sandoval reported to camp in much better shape than he finished the season in.
• Is Panda in the Best Shape Of His Life?™ Sandoval doesn't know what you're talking about. He says no one on the Red Sox told him to lose weight and that despite Farrell saying that Sandoval had lost 20 pounds, Panda said that he never weighed himself all offseason.
• Best Shape Of His Life? Judge Sandoval for yourself.
• But Jonathan Lucroy is definitely in the best shape of his life. I can't believe that anyone says that this time of year with a straight face.
• Sean Doolittle is definitely in THE BEST SHAPE OF HIS LIFE! We know because he said so. He also changed his Twitter handle to "BestShapeOfMyLifeGuy." And no, Doolittle didn't have a straight face. Of course, he never does.
• The Marlins need to have their chins in the BEST SHAPE OF THEIR LIVES because they've instituted a new "no facial hair" policy. You're telling me a team managed by this guy says you can't play baseball with facial hair?
• Craig Calcaterra thinks seeing Barry Bonds wearing a Marlins jersey is just weird. Along with a few other people wearing jerseys we've never seen them wear before.
• Robin Ventura blames the White Sox poor hitting last season in part on their poor performance in Spring Training. Yeah, about that. . . To no one's surprise, Ventura just pulled that one out of his . . .I'll say "ear" because this is a family blog.
• Dayn Perry with the six teams that won't contend in 2016. All of them are in the National League and you can probably already name them.
• Jonathan Papelbon reported to Spring Training and said "I was in the wrong" in the choking incident with Bryce Harper.
• Thomas Boswell thinks that the Nationals bringing back Papelbon is either a genius move or a disaster in the making. How about a move dictated by no one else wanting him and not wanting to eat his big contract?
• Nick Ashbourne explains how the Yankees are building themselves around young pitching.
• Wallace Matthews writes that as good as the Yankees bullpen could be in 2016, it won't win games for the Yankees on their own.
• Chris Archer "scolded" two young pitchers for showing up "late" (meaning on-time) for Spring Training. Archer later said he didn't "scold" anyone, just "educated" them.
• Mariners general manager Jerry DiPoto and Angels manager Mike Scioscia both commented on the breakdown in communications that led to DiPoto leaving the Angels organization.
• And Angels owner Arte Moreno said the team is "100%" not trading Mike Trout. There had been talk. Mostly by people with nothing else to talk about before Spring Training.
• Ken Rosenthal doesn't think the Mets potentially poor up-the-middle defense is a deal-breaker for the Mets 2016 season.
• Jerry Crasnick explains why other teams will have trouble following the Royals blueprint for success. Included is a quote from Jed Hoyer that says, essentially, "Yeah, we're not doing that."
• The Royals also seem to have a strategy of grabbing all the ex-Braves pitchers they can get.
• Kenta Maeda reported to Dodgers camp and reminded a lot of observers of Hideo Nomo. Also, when asked about the most difficult part of Spring Training so far, Maeda answered without hesitation: "English." He's probably also wondering why he came all the way across the Pacific just to wear a Chunichi Dragons cap.
• The first injury in Dodgers camp was second baseman Micah Johnson slicing his hand while trying to remove an avocado pit. You always hold the avocado with a tea towel, Micah. Then cut around the pit and twist one half off. Then, with the avocado in your hand with the tea towel, you strike the pit with your knife, twist and pull. With the tea towel, if you miss, you won't cut yourself. Everyone should know this.
• A couple of Pirates relievers try out the new protective headgear for pitchers.
• Paul Swydan examines the infielder glut on the Pirates. Join the club, Buccos.
• Jung-ho Kang covered the scar from his leg surgery with a tattoo of his own face.
• Michael Salfino explains that innings limits for pitchers aren't working to prevent injuries.
• A Rangers fan won free season tickets after hitting a home run in batting practice at Globe Life Park. It probably helped that he was a former college player.
• A picture of Roy Campanella taking one last look at Ebbets Field just before they demolished it.
• New Giants outfielder Denard Span is so excited to be working with Willie Mays in Spring Training that he doesn't even mind that Mays thinks his name is "Bernard."
• And finally, we got a look at the inside of Albert Pujols' house. Wait. Why does Pujols have a poster of Mike Trout in his bathroom?

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.