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For Fisher, Truck Day is best gig of the year By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | @castrovince | February 6, 2015 + 24 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- It's a tough job. Ed Fisher spends more than 300 nights a year on the road as a driver for Andrews Moving & Storage. Day bleeds to night on those 11-hour-at-a-time treks on the American highway system, and life goes on back home without him. He missed Christmas this past year. First time in more than a quarter century that absence proved unavoidable. His wife didn't take it well.

But once a year, this specific gig comes along. Load up the truck in the bowels of Progressive Field, drive the Indians' gear to Goodyear, Ariz., usher in the start of . It's his favorite route of the year. "To be perfectly frank with you," Fisher said Friday, in the midst of the load-out, "it's one of the only jobs I really enjoy doing anymore. The guys are great, and they make you feel like you're a part of the team. It's comfortable. "... I think they realize that I take pride in my work, just like they take pride in their team." The truck driver has his own overlooked but important role in the Major League universe. His job is both ceremonial and substantial. He's the groundhog who, on an annual basis, doesn't see his shadow. It is a credit to him that spring always arrives on time, come hell or congested traffic patterns. Fisher, 62 and a Tribe fan since birth, has handled the honor for the Indians for each of the last eight seasons. His first year was their last of training in Winter Haven, Fla. That drive would take about a day and a half. The Goodyear trek is 3 1/2 days, provided the weather doesn't get too nasty on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma, north Texas and east New Mexico. "Three years ago, I had to go down through Dallas, because 40 was atrocious," he said. "It's right in that zone where it's either snow or ice or both. And east of Albuquerque, there's a stretch of New Mexico that can get pretty nasty." Gas prices have come down, but the Cleveland-to-Goodyear drive was still set to consume about $1,000 of diesel. Oh, and $32.50 in tolls to cross Oklahoma. Fisher was driving the lead of two Tribe trucks (Steve Neely was behind the wheel for the other). His was the one with the huge Indians decal on the side, making him a target not just for truck-stop vandals but, one surmises, aggressive-driving Tigers, Royals, White Sox and Twins fans.

In the back, precious cargo. At least, by baseball standards. Balls and bats and gloves and uniforms and luggage and fitness equipment and more sunflower seeds than you've ever seen in your life. Oh, and Indians 's red scooter. Can't forget that. This isn't the most interesting stuff Fisher has moved. For the first part of his career, he did household moves. One guy had eight-foot-tall suits of armor on the turns of his staircase. Another was a retired Air Force pilot who had the 400-pound tail section of his plane in the garage. "If people have it," Fisher said, "I've probably moved it." One time, he was on a for Andrews when he got summoned to Las Vegas. Victoria's Secret's "Angels Across America" tour had wrapped up, and Fisher hauled the runway models' wings back to the company headquarters in Columbus. "They were in a box," he said. "No models attached." Upon arrival in Goodyear, Fisher would have to wait for another assignment, another route to parts as-yet-unknown. "I wasn't home this summer at all," he said. "I was out a little over three months. Then I got home Sept. 10, was home for two days, left again and didn't get back until the 15th of last month. I've been gone a lot." His wife, Patricia, wasn't happy with the Christmas development, as you might imagine. "That was something she was always very insistent about," Fisher said. "We've been married for 23 years. We live in Parma. Well, she lives in Parma; I live in the truck. She puts up with my nonsense." And Ed puts up with whatever the road bears. When he first got called for the Indians job, it was pure happenstance, luck of the draw. Yet he handled it so professionally and worked so diligently at the loading and unloading that they've kept asking him back. "I've become a familiar face," he said with pride. The face -- and the right foot -- that brings us baseball.

Truck Day gives Indians fans a sign of spring By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 6, 2015 + 14 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- It hardly looked like spring in downtown Cleveland on Friday morning. The combination of bitter cold, a biting wind and piles of snow around Progressive Field made it crystal clear that winter is still very much in full swing at the corner of Carnegie and .

Beneath the ballpark, it was a different story. Workers whipped around corners on vehicles, transporting pallet after pallet of packaged equipment for the start of Indians' Spring Training. Two 53-foot trucks were loaded and prepped for the 2,000-mile journey across the heart of the Midwest and to the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz. Each year, Truck Day arrives with the feel of a local holiday. "I know it's a big day for Cleveland fans to have a sign of spring coming," said Tony Amato, the Indians' home clubhouse and equipment manager. "With the weather and everything, I think it's great for everyone here." The two trucks, provided by Andrews Moving and Storage, will began their trek on Friday and are expected to pull into Cleveland's Spring Training headquarters by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. By Wednesday afternoon, Amato expects that the team's clubhouse in Arizona will be fully equipped and functional for the team's players. While a handful of Indians players have already arrived to the Goodyear complex, and are not required to report to Spring Training until Feb. 18. Position players will follow suit on Feb. 22, leading up to the team's first full-squad workout on Feb. 24. The report date fell later on the calendar than in previous years, giving the team's equipment staff a little extra time to prepare for Friday. Amato said his staff begins the ordering process in October and November, using January and the first week of February to assemble and pack the variety of items heading to Arizona. Loaded onto the trucks this year were more than 30 bikes, 25 sets of golf clubs, 12 pallets of water and one pallet of mustard. Here are some more photos from Truck Day at Progressive Field. Only 2,034 miles to Goodyear. pic.twitter.com/mvvp6wwFLf - Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 6, 2015 Near the end of the loading process, a worker buzzed down the tunnel on the red scooter that belongs to Indians manager Terry Francona. "I know we had over 50-some skids. It's probably a record," Amato said. "It seems like we were really heavy going down this year for some reason. A lot of personal stuff. Big on bikes. And then all the baseball equipment. I think we're fortunate with our facility in Goodyear that a lot of stuff can be shipped right there for the players' needs. We have someone there year-round." Along those lines, the Indians ordered 18,000 , but those are sent directly to the Goodyear facility. Each player also has 18-24 bats, so the team ordered roughly 600 in total. Many of those were sent to Cleveland, where the clubhouse staff spent time labeling them for the individual players before packing them for the trip. One pallet off to the side had "Kluber" written in black ink on one of the boxes. Corey Kluber, who took home the Award last season, had a highchair among the many items on his skid. Many of the team's players and front-office members send items for their families on the trucks each year. Amato said the strangest item he has shipped to date was a large safe for a member of one of the team's past coaching staffs. "[That] was a little bizarre," Amato said. "There's not anything unique that stands out this year." Andrews Moving, which had its original location beyond the right-field wall of the Indians' League Park decades ago, did make one change this year: one of its trucks included Indians art on the trailer. When the trucks roll into Tigers, White Sox and Royals territory during the trip to Arizona, people will know that Cleveland is coming through. "It's big. It gets the brand out there," Amato said. "It's great for both Andrews and the Indians."

Tribe anchored by strong catching duo in Gomes, Perez By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 4, 2015 + 350 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes is not a fan of taking a day off, but he understands that is part of the gig as a starting in the big leagues. During the first half last season, accepting the requisite respite was especially frustrating while Cleveland's backup situation was shaky.

The Indians began the year with Carlos Santana as the primary backup catcher, but he was also trying to serve as the main in an experiment that did not pan out. The Tribe also took a chance on experienced reserve catcher George Kottaras, but stability behind the plate did not arrive until rookie Roberto Perez was called up from -A Columbus in July. "I'm very thankful for him," Gomes said. "I want to be playing every day, but it was kind of tough taking a day off, just because guys were coming in and out and not knowing our pitching staff. Roberto did a pretty unbelievable job with our pitching staff. Guys trusted him." As the Indians prepare for the 2015 campaign, the team now trusts that it has one of baseball's top catching duos in place. Gomes has emerged as one of the American League's top young catchers, and Perez showed last season that he is more than capable of providing the kind of defense, game calling and offense that is required from a backup. Indians first-base Sandy Alomar Jr., who spent 20 years in the Majors as a catcher, gushes when asked about the abilities, potential and work ethic of the two catchers he now helps instruct for Cleveland. "It's a pleasure to be able to work with guys like that," Alomar said. Gomes was acquired via trade from the Blue Jays prior to the 2013 season, seized the starting role by August that year and was inked to a six- year extension that runs through '19 and has team options that run through the '21 season. Last year, Gomes earned an American League Silver Slugger Award and helped guide Corey Kluber through an AL Cy Young Award-winning season. Perez -- selected in the 33rd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft -- has long been considered one of the top defensive catchers in Cleveland's farm system. Last year, following a battle with Bell's Palsy in 2013, the 26-year-old Perez turned a corner offensively with Columbus and earned a promotion to the Majors in July. Similar to Gomes, Perez is under contractual control through the 2020 season. "Roberto Perez has been catching all his life," Alomar said. "He looks almost relaxed and soothing when he's catching. He brings that aspect of the game. The one thing that's held him back is he wasn't able to perform offensively, but last year he made some major changes and he was able to bring his offense into his game. He got a lot better." Overall, the Indians produced a .252/.300/.421 slash line from the catching position with 22 home runs, 30 doubles, 72 RBIs, 72 runs scored and a 108 OPS+ in 2014. Gomes (479 plate appearances), Perez (95), Santana (46), Kottaras (26) and Chris Gimenez (one) all contributed to that offensive showing. Gomes, who had eight starts as a , led the way with 21 homers, 74 RBIs and a .785 OPS. Perez .305 with 20 extra-base hits and a .922 OPS in 53 games at Triple-A prior to joining the big league club. In his limited time with the Tribe, the young catcher turned in a .271/.311/.365 slash line and helped the club post a 17-8 record in the games he started behind the plate. From Aug. 22-28, when Gomes was sidelined with a concussion, Perez hit .278 and helped limit the opposition to 3.2 runs per game. "The first thing, when he came in, I told him, 'Man, don't play as a backup. Play as a starter,'" Gomes said. "It's the same thing I did when I first came in. He took that and kept going. He's a really good defender. I think we all knew that. It was just good to see him keep progressing here at the next level." Defensively, Indians pitchers posted a 3.68 ERA in 1,082 innings with Gomes and a 2.60 ERA in 232 1/3 innings with Perez. As a group, Cleveland's catchers turned in a 32 percent caught-stealing rate (second-highest percentage in the AL). Perez caught baserunners at a 36 percent clip (8-for-22) and Gomes had a 32 percent rate (31-for-97). The AL average was 27 percent in 2014. Indians catchers also led the league with eight defensive runs saved (six via Perez). According to FanGraphs.com, the Indians' 19.2 defensive rating from their catchers also ranked first in the AL. From July 10 through the end of the season -- beginning with the day Perez made his MLB debut -- Tribe pitchers ranked third in the Majors in ERA (3.07) and first in strikeouts (670). Alomar believes the Indians have something special behind the plate with Gomes leading the way. "He is a very underrated player, man," Alomar said. "This guy is a game-changer. He can make so many things happen behind the plate and offensively, too. And he's only going to get better."

Indians prospect Sheffield receives probation By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 6, 2015 + 6 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- Indians pitching prospect Justus Sheffield has pleaded guilty to underage drinking and a reduced charge of aggravated criminal tresspass, according to multiple reports. The charges stemmed from an incident last month in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Per The , the 18-year-old Sheffield received probation and was told to contribute $500 to the Haven of Hope charity organization. With good behavior over the next year, the pitcher will also be eligible to apply to have the case expunged from his record. Sheffield was originally charged with underage drinking and burglary following an altercation in his hometown on Jan. 12. The pitcher, along with two of his former Tullahoma High School teammates, broke into a local home around 4:30 a.m. ET and confronted a resident about a personal matter. Sheffield was arrested and charged, but then granted his release after posting a $5,500 bond. The pitcher was initially scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Thursday, but the hearing was moved up to Jan. 22 at the request of his lawyer. The Indians selected Sheffield -- ranked seventh by MLB.com among the Tribe's Top 20 Prospects -- with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Sheffield was a compensation pick for Cleveland, which was awarded that selection after pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez left via free agency and signed with the Orioles last offseason. Sheffield turned down a scholarship to pitch for Vanderbilt University and signed with the Indians for a bonus of $1.6 million last summer. In his first professional season in Cleveland's system, the left-hander went 3-1 with a 4.87 ERA, striking out 29 and walking nine in 20 1/3 innings (eight games) with the Arizona League Indians (Rookie Level).

Inbox: What will Indians do to improve defense? By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 3, 2015 + 214 COMMENTS We all know the Indians' defense must improve, but what steps will be taken to try to make that happen? -- Mark K., Las Vegas

Tribe manager Terry Francona noted during the Winter Meetings that some changes could be coming to the Spring Training workout program in an effort to address Cleveland's defense. In a lengthy sit-down with reporters prior to the recent Tribe Fest event, Francona went into further detail on some of the plans. 1. The Indians plan on running plays at game speed and to completion during Spring Training drills. What this means is that, rather than simulating a run-down, for example, the team will let a play develop on the field and react accordingly. This approach has the potential to better simulate the unpredictable nature of a game situation. 2. Cleveland's fielders will take some ground balls in various defensive-shift alignments. During camp, the daily routine usually includes fielding grounders at the traditional spots around the infield. That does not simulate the kind of shifts that are often in play during the regular season. Mixing in some shift drills can help provide repetition for such scenarios. 3. Bench coach Brad Mills will likely skip some road trips to remain at the complex to work with fielders. Francona does not feel having a bench coach is always necessary for a Cactus League game, so the manager believes that Mills can be better utilized back at the home site with players who are not on that particular trip. 4. Third-base coach , who doubles as the team's infield instructor, will hold defensive workouts for players who exit Cactus League games early at home. Especially early in camp, the regulars do not play a full game. When they leave the contest, they will still be loose and in game condition, so Francona feels that is a great time to squeeze in some extra drills. These are a few of the ideas that Francona and his staff have come up with for this spring. The Indians also feel that beginning the season with Jose Ramirez at and Carlos Santana at first base will help continue the progress shown in the infield in the second half last year. Submit a question for the Inbox. What do you project the starting lineup and starting five in the rotation to be on Opening Day, assuming all of the guys are on track to be healthy? -- Andy L., Littleton, Colo. I'd expect Michael Bourn to be back in the leadoff spot, through an improved on-base percentage is as important for the center fielder as increasing his stolen-base total this season. The second spot is a tough call right now. Francona loved Ramirez in that position down the stretch last year, but I could see Jason Kipnis slotting in there as well. I'd project left fielder Michael Brantley, Santana and Brandon Moss to be in the Nos. 3-5 slots, while catcher Yan Gomes and Nick Swisher look like good bets for Nos. 6-7. Either Moss or Swisher would be in right field, with the other in the lineup as the designated hitter. If Kipnis is batting second, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and Ramirez could round things out in the final two spots. As for the rotation, I don't think it's any secret that Corey Kluber will be the No. 1 starter. What might be surprising to some is that Francona has hinted that veteran Gavin Floyd might follow Kluber in the second spot. From there, I'd expect Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer to be in the Nos. 3-4 slots. To me, it's a toss-up between T.J. House and Danny Salazar for the fifth spot right now. Could the Indians turn the right-field logjam into a trade during Spring Training? -- @OldManBikshorn (via Twitter) Definitely. If Moss, Swisher, David Murphy and Ryan Raburn are all healthy and ready to go for Opening Day, Cleveland could certainly explore a trade to free up the jam. During Tribe Fest, Murphy made it known that, while he's willing to accept a reduction in at-bats, he doesn't want to see his playing time slip to the 150-at-bat range. If it looks like he'll be in a minimal role, I'd expect the Indians to try to find a landing spot for the veteran outfielder. In the hypothetical where Moss, Swish and/or Raburn aren't healthy, which outfielder is likely to be next in line? James Ramsey? Tyler Holt? KEY NUMBER: 35 -- Times Kipnis batted lead off after Michael Bourn went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. His first three years in the majors he batted .200 when hitting first in the order but last season hit .230 with three home runs and 30 RBI. 2B PROSPECT TO WATCH: Ronny Rodriguez -- He was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the organization by in 2014. He struggled last year in Akron, batting .228 while playing every infield spot. With Joe Wendle traded to Oakland during the offseason, Rodriguez could have a more permanent spot at second, especially with a dearth of options there in the organization. 2014 ORGANIZATION DEPTH CHART (15 or more games at second): Columbus: Ryan Rohlinger/Ramirez/Audy Ciriaco/Sellers; Akron: Joe Wendle/Ronny Rodriguez; Carolina: James Roberts/Todd Hankins/Yhoxian Medina/Torsten Boss; Lake County: Claudio Bautista/Paul Hendrix; Mahoning Valley: Steven Patterson/Ordomar Valdez; Arizona Rookie: Willi Castro/Alexis Pantoja; Dominican Summer: Jorma Rodriguez/Efrin Ortega/Erlin Cerda There are few times when you can say a pair of injuries were the best thing to happen to a team. In the Indians' case last season though, that ended up being the case. When Carlos Santana (concussion) and Nick Swisher (knee) went on the disabled list in late May, Lonnie Chisenhall entrenched himself at third base after a great start to the season. When he returned, Santana moved to first and found a regular home there and Swisher became the designated hitter. At the time Santana went on the disabled list, he was hitting .159. The remainder of the season he batted .266 with 21 home runs and 68 RBI. Of the 102 games he played from June 6 to the end of the season, 89 were at first. For the first two months of the season, there were only three cases when he had a streak of three games or more at the same position. With what he did offensively and defensively, is Santana the Indians regular first baseman coming into spring training? "I don't see any reason to do something different unless there was a reason," manager Terry Francona said recently. Santana also showed some great athleticism in making plays at first. According to STATS LLC's StatsPass, he had the sixth-best zone rating in the majors after taking over at first with a .879. By comparison, Swisher had the worst in the majors when he was the regular first baseman the first two months. The zone rating is an estimate of a player's efficiency in fielding balls hit into his typical defensive zone, as measured by STATS LLC reporters. An 's rating is equal to the number of outs made divided by the number of balls hit into his zone. Only grounders are considered. Francona also has a better appreciation for Santana after the two spent two weeks together in Japan during 's tour. After not quite knowing where he was going to be playing each day, Santana should not have that problem at least early this season.

2014 STARTS AT FIRST: Santana 93, Swisher 52, Jesus Aguilar 9, Lonnie Chisenhall 5, Chris Gimenez 3. 2015 OUTLOOK: The Indians have a ton of options to back up Santana. Besides Swisher and Chisenhall, there's also Brandon Moss. With Aguilar playing only first and designated hitter, it is tough seeing him get a spot on the Opening Day roster. KEY NUMBER: 113 -- Walks drawn by Santana last year, which led the majors and were the sixth most in club history. 1B PROSPECT TO WATCH: Bobby Bradley -- After being selected in the third round last year, Bradley led the Arizona Rookie League in batting average (.361), home runs (8) and RBI (50) en route to MVP honors. Could begin this season at Low-A Lake County. 2014 ORGANIZATION DEPTH CHART (15 or more games at first): Columbus: Aguilar/Audy Ciriaco/David Cooper; Akron: Bryan LaHair/Jake Lowery/Ronny Rodriguez; Lynchburg: Joe Sever/Jerrud Sabourin; Lake County: Nellie Rodriguez/Grant Fink; Mahoning Valley: Leo Castillo/Juan De La Cruz; AZL Indians: Bobby Bradley/Emmanuel Tapia; DSL Indians: Jose Medina/Emmanuel Beltre/Ronnys Mora

GM Brian Cashman believes in Yankees By Nick CafardoGLOBE STAFF FEBRUARY 08, 2015 The Yankees and Alex Rodriguez, the gifts that keep on giving — at least for sports journalists. Picture that tent at George Steinbrenner Field in spring training. Rodriguez reading his mea culpa with a thousand cameras clicking. And the zoo that will follow. “Business as usual,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said when asked about A-Rod and how the team will handle his arrival. The recent elections of Craig Biggio and Randy Johnson to the Hall of Fame were more than great individual achievements. Biggio will be the first player to enter Cooperstown with an Astros cap on his plaque while Johnson will be the first to go in as a Diamondback. That leaves only six teams not to be represented on a plaque. The six teams left, and the players that give them the best chance to join the club: As we reported on Friday, Cashman said earlier reports that the Yankees had declined a face-to-face meeting to clear the air with the 39-year- old Rodriguez were false. Cashman said he first heard from A-Rod on Thursday and that the organization was “very happy to meet with him.” Cashman offers no guarantees when it comes to Rodriguez, who served a season-long suspension in 2014 for his role in the Biogenesis scandal. “He’s 39 years old, almost 40, and he hasn’t really played in 15 months, so there are lots of question marks,” Cashman said. “Chase Headley is our third baseman, but we’ll see if Alex shows he can still play some third base for us again in certain situations.” Cashman said Yankees strength and conditioning coach Matt Krause visited Rodriguez twice in Miami and the feeling was he had kept himself in good shape. “Alex has always worked hard on his conditioning,” Cashman said. A successful return for Rodriguez will be just one piece of a complicated puzzle for the Yankees. There were goals this offseason, and Cashman felt the Yankees met them. He’s not guaranteeing the American League East title, or that his injured starting rotation and sluggers Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, and Rodriguez will be what they were, or that Brian McCann will bust out offensively. What he is saying is that the Yankees, if most things fall into place, could be a “very entertaining team,” with a goal of winning the division and taking it from there. Cashman isn’t unaware of what the media and public think, that the Yankees don’t have a shot with their broken-down team. But what if they aren’t so broken down in 2015? For one, Cashman is pleased with the bullpen, including the addition of Andrew Miller. He likes its depth — after also adding David Carpenter, Justin Wilson, Esmil Rogers, and Chris Martin — and the fact Dellin Betances is at the back end. Cashman also said that given the guaranteed contracts they had in place, “we weren’t going to be in the big-ticket items at this time.” That may have been the biggest surprise of the offseason, that the Yankees showed restraint. So perhaps there’s a crossing of the fingers and holding of the breath that Masahiro Tanaka’s three doctors are right in not recommending elbow surgery; that CC Sabathia’s knee is recovered enough for him to be effective again; and that between Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova (out until late May after Tommy John surgery), Chris Capuano, Nathan Eovaldi (acquired from the Marlins), and Adam Warren they have a five-man rotation that works. Cashman said the Yankees have monitored Sabathia and the goal is to have him ready by the start of the season, so they will be cautious with him in spring training. Sabathia, meanwhile, has told Cashman he feels good and will be ready. Cashman also said that Sabathia has kept the weight off, which bodes well for his knees in the future, though some believe his weight loss resulted in decreased velocity. Cashman also has an offense that needs Teixeira and Beltran to rebound from wrist and elbow injuries, respectively. “Tex is a year removed from the wrist surgery now, and if we get Beltran producing the way he did the year before that, then we should have a strong lineup,” Cashman said. But can Beltran hold up playing right field every day? Can Stephen Drew rebound from his worst season and truly become a full-time second baseman? Can Didi Gregorius improve enough offensively to not only replace Derek Jeter, but add the youthful element Cashman has been looking for? “One of our goals was to get younger,” Cashman said. “I think we did that at a few positions. If Didi can make those strides offensively like we think he can, we’ll be very satisfied because of the defense he brings.” And if Gregorius struggles, Drew is there to take over. Cashman was pleased last season with Jacoby Ellsbury, feeling he was close to his production of the year before with the Red Sox. Cashman wouldn’t be surprised if Ellsbury provided more power, but Cashman feels Ellsbury’s true value lies in being the leadoff hitter. “Given our injury situation last season, Jacoby had to bat third quite a bit, but we’re looking forward to getting him back at the top of the order,” Cashman said. As for McCann, Cashman was thrilled last season with his defense, including his game-calling and handling of pitchers. He feels McCann may have struggled at the plate as many first-time free agents do when they come to New York. Cashman also cites defensive shifting against Teixeira and McCann as a major issue because “there’s more shifting now in the AL East than in any division in baseball.” In all, Cashman still thinks the potential is there for a big year. “We have a lot of talent,” he said. “Like other teams, we have some ifs. If we get good comebacks and our rotation stays healthy, if our team stays healthy, we’re a good team.” TOOLS OF THE TRADE Youngster Moncada is said to have it all You can’t find one GM, either involved or not involved in obtaining him, who doesn’t rave about Yoan Moncada, and who wouldn’t take him No. 1 in the draft if he were an American amateur player. Moncada is a 19-year-old Cuban middle infielder with great arm strength, great range at second base in particular (though he also can play shortstop and third), great bat speed, and very good speed. Most teams involved can’t talk about Moncada on the record because he’s a free agent, but one National League talent evaluator pointed out, “He could be the next Robinson Cano/Chase Utley, but more Cano. That’s the kind of potential bat we’re talking about.” Moncada has been cleared to sign with a major league team. The Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, and Cubs have been the most aggressive, but the Athletics, Phillies, Tigers, Giants, Rays, and Rangers also covet him. One GM thinks Moncada would need some minor league seasoning before coming to the big leagues. How much time remains to be seen. And the feeling is that while Moncada is a natural second baseman, he’d be able to handle shortstop or third base. The Dodgers and Yankees have a clear need for him, but the Red Sox? Boston GM Ben Cherington always says “there’s no such thing as having too much talent,” but he also expects a lot of competition for Moncada’s services. In the infield, the Sox have Dustin Pedroia tied up for a long time, Xander Bogaerts is only 22, and just signed a five-year deal. First base could be interesting in the future if, say, Sandoval moved there in another year. But if someone reminds you of Cano, you likely make room for him. The price? Many believe it will take in the range of a $40 million-$50 million bonus to get Moncada. And teams appear willing to get into a bidding war. “He may be better than [Yasiel] Puig or [Jose] Abreu or [Yoenis] Cespedes or [Jorge] Soler,” said one National League GM. “Certainly there’s more upside, and the fact he’s a middle infielder who can hit for average and power makes him a much sought-after commodity. There isn’t anyone who compares to him in the draft or a player of his age around the league. He’s got every tool.” Apropos of nothing 1. We failed to recognize the death of Bill Monbouquette in last week’s column. Monbo was a terrific pitcher, pitching coach, and the ultimate teammate. He did so much to help Pumpsie Green’s assimilation as the Red Sox’ first African-American player. He was also a tough guy that nobody messed with. He fought his battle with leukemia with a vengeance and lived his later years with tremendous dignity. 2. The future of Rick Porcello with the Red Sox will become an interesting topic as the season goes on. He’s a free agent after this season and if he continues to elevate his game he stands to earn a Jon Lester-like Red Sox offer. He’ll be 27 at that time, still well under the 30-year-old warning sign for starting pitchers. But he also could be one of the most sought-after pitchers, so it may behoove the Sox to get an extension done before he hits free agency. 3. General managers actually took a vote on defensive shifting at their November meetings in Phoenix, and only approximately 4-6 wanted to eliminate it. Agent Scott Boras is against defensive shifting, and is in agreement with commissioner Rob Manfred in having discussions about eliminating it. Boras cites a number of reasons, among them lefthanded pull hitters not being rewarded for hitting the ball hard and where it’s pitched (a mantra taught by coaches as players come up through the ranks); the effect it may have on amateur players down the road; and the possible increase in strikeouts. 4. Pablo Sandoval’s weight and Hanley Ramirez’s attitude are two things baseball executives who passed on both players are waiting to see unfold with the Red Sox. 5. Dustin Pedroia has a huge chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong about his so-called decline. Wouldn’t bet against the little fella. 6. Wonder if a year off has brought some of Barry Zito’s velocity back. He had dropped to an average of 83 miles per hour in 2013. Zito is now working out for teams. Updates on nine 1. Blake Swihart, C, Red Sox — The Phillies continue to insist on Swihart in any deal for Cole Hamels, and the Red Sox continue to decline. There’s been no movement by the Phillies to ask instead for Christian Vazquez, as Phillies scouts believe Swihart is the prize of the Sox’ young catchers. The Phillies might have better options with the Padres, who seem more flexible on catching prospect Austin Hedges. 2. James Shields, RHP, free agent — Negotiations were going on late Saturday night. One major league source said Shields was “in the decision-making process.” San Diego had made an offer and Shields was deciding whether to take it or consider others. The Cubs, Marlins, and Cardinals also appear to be in the mix. 3. Victor Martinez, DH, Tigers — With news of Martinez having knee surgery and possibly not being ready for the start of the season, the Tigers have been looking for a lefthanded bat. They’re probably not looking at a high-priced bat such as Andre Ethier, but more likely a Daniel Nava type, though the Red Sox need Nava off the bench or in a platoon role. 4. Everth Cabrera, SS, free agent — He has a few personal and legal issues, but a major league source with knowledge of Cabrera’s situation indicates he has made great strides personally. He could solve a shortstop problem with the Mets, but right now there are no substantive talks as they seem committed to Wilmer Flores. Cabrera, a switch-hitter, had some good years in San Diego, but he served 50 games after being tied to the Biogenesis scandal, and he has a resisting arrest charge against him. 5. Brandon Beachy, RHP, free agent — There’s a good amount of interest in Beachy when he’s finally ready to sign. He has put that off until spring training to fully recover from Tommy John surgery and to start throwing for teams. Beachy is only 28, but this was his second Tommy John, which is often a red flag. But his past success certainly has teams intrigued, wondering whether he can return to be the pitcher many thought could emerge as a top starter. He’s only made 46 career starts and has amassed a 14-11 record with a 3.23 ERA. 6. Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Phillies — The Brewers and Blue Jays remain interested in Papelbon. The biggest hurdle remains how his vesting option of $13 million is awarded. Teams dealing for him want the Phillies to assume the bill, but if that’s the case, the Phillies would also want a better prospect in return. The Phillies said they would keep Papelbon if they can’t get the right return, but they are also eager to move hard- throwing Ken Giles into the closer role. 7. Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, free agent — Despite 44 saves (five blown), a league-high 66 games finished, a 0.985 WHIP with 73 strikeouts, and only 18 walks in 68 innings for the Brewers last season, K-Rod remains a free agent. The Brewers could still bring him back if the price is right and they move off Papelbon, but Rodriguez remains an intriguing reliever and one who transformed himself from a power guy into a guy who mixes in offspeed pitches. K-Rod is 33. 8. Wade Miley, LHP, Red Sox — It will be interesting to see whether the Diamondbacks or Red Sox are the winners in the deal that also sent Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster to Arizona. Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart likes power arms and felt De La Rosa and Webster gave him that. Neither lived up to expectations with the Red Sox after being acquired from the Dodgers, though De La Rosa was beginning to make strides. Some in the Diamondbacks organization felt Miley had reached his peak. The Red Sox, given their commitment of a three-year, $19.25 million deal, feel he has more to offer at age 28. 9. , manager, Lancaster (Pa.) Barnstormers — Hobson’s team won the Atlantic League championship last season, and he also got to watch his son, K.C., play for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats ( A, ) in a four-game series last year. “They came to town and my owners said if you don’t take a few days off to watch your son you’re fired,” Hobson said. K.C. Hobson is a first baseman who had a down year in 2014 with a .228 average but still managed 78 RBIs. Extra innings From the Bill Chuck files — “Since the end of the 2010 season, Josh Hamilton’s lifetime batting average at the end of each season has gone from .311 to .308 to .304 to .295 to his current .292.” . . . Happy birthday, Burke Badenhop (32), Aaron Cook (36), and (64). Boston Globe LOADED: 02.08.2015