Weiss: Rockies have no doubts Rosario can be ‘functional’ at 1B
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:21 am ET) Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario has worked this offseason on making the transition from primarily playing at catcher to also playing at first base and in the outfield. The updates from the Rockies have been positive, and manager Walt Weiss delivered another encouraging update Monday.

“We still see him as a catcher first, but we’re trying to make him functional at first,” Weiss told MLB Network Radio. “We don’t have any doubt he’ll do that.”

Rockies manager Walt Weiss: CarGo, Tulo are ‘ahead of schedule’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:17 am ET) Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Monday morning shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez “are on schedule or even ahead of schedule,” per MLB Network Radio. Tulowitzki is recovering from August hip surgery, while Gonzalez is recovering from August knee surgery.

“We feel like CarGo and Tulo are still elite and in their prime. We feel like there’s a window of opportunity here,” Weiss said.

Barry Bonds ‘OK’ with A-Rod wanting to take down his HR record
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:05 am ET) Cooperstown might not yet be calling the name of MLB home run king Barry Bonds, but he’s at least going to make it into one Hall of Fame.

The 50-year-old Bonds, who totaled 762 career home runs and won the NL MVP seven times, is honored to be elected into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. The official announcement will be made Monday.

“It’s great. Being a Bay Area guy, it’s awesome. It’s wonderful,” Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle. “My family, we’ve been (playing) in San Francisco since 1958, starting with my godfather, Willie (Mays), and my dad (Bobby). We’ve been entertaining in these (San Francisco) ballparks for decades. There’s tradition in my family, and I’m very, very proud of that.”

Bonds has failed to be elected for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in each of his first three years of eligibility, mostly due to his link to performance-enhancing drugs. Although, he seems hopeful one day he will make the Hall.

“I don’t even compare the two. I’m from here in the Bay Area. This is my home. This is my pride and joy,” Bonds said. “I believe eventually the right thing will be done.”

The Hall of Fame wasn’t the only topic Bonds was willing to talk about. He opened up about tutoring other major leaguers, including embattled Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who apparently is looking to take down Bonds’ home-run record. The 39-year-old Rodriguez enters 2015 with 654 career homers.

“He was funny,” Bonds said. “He said, ‘I want to take your record.’ I said, ‘That’s OK. If that’s what you want to do, we’ve got a lot of work to do.’ I was excited he wanted to do it.”

Astros OF George Springer plans to work on ‘everything’ this spring
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:47 am ET) The Astros were active this offseason in reshaping their roster and added a few bats to the lineup that could provide more protection for players like Jose Altuve and George Springer. Some of the key offseason acquisitions include Evan Gattis, Jed Lowrie and Colby Rasmus.

“It’s been exciting,” Springer said, per MLB.com. “There’s obviously some guys who have done some things. I’ve played against pretty much all of them. It’s exciting to have them here.

“They’re going to help the team. Those guys, obviously, can hit the ball out of the park on any swing. It’s obviously going to be great to have them — and obviously with Jose, he’s always on base. Hopefully between [Chris] Carter, Gattis and everybody else, we’ll hit them out of the ballpark this year.”

A change for Springer this spring is that he won’t have to compete for a spot in the starting lineup. He will be a key cog in Houston’s lineup, so this spring he will be focused on refining “everything.”

“There isn’t one aspect of this game I can fully understand,” he said. “It’s one of those things you go into the offseason and you can improve upon the success and the failures.”

Padres, James Shields agree on four-year, $75M range
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(2:08 am ET) CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman confirms a report the Padres have agreed on a four-year deal with pitcher James Shields.

The deal’s worth $75 million and includes an option for a fifth season. Shields still needs to take a physical, which will likely push back the official announcement for a few days. 

The 33-year-old is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.21 ERA over 227 innings.

The move completes the Padres overhaul this offseason. The team completely revamped in the outfield, adding Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers. Catcher Derek Norris and third baseman Will Middlebrooks also joined the club via trades.

Shields will join Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy at the top of San Diego’s rotation.

SB Nation first reported the Shields-Padres agreement.

Mets’ Curtis Granderson hoping to bounce back this year
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(1:46 am ET) Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson is hoping to bounce back this season, according to the New York Daily News.

In his first season with New York, Granderson hit .227/.326/.388, with 20 home runs, in 564 at-bats. Granderson acknowledged that he’s one of the more expensive players on the club, and that means he needs to produce better numbers moving forward. “You can’t hide behind that,” he said. “It’s up to me to deliver. I understand that. It doesn’t change the pressure I put on myself.” 

“I didn’t get the start I would’ve loved to have,” Granderson added. “Historically, I haven’t necessarily been a good starter.” In order to change that, Granderson worked with hitting coach Kevin Long early in the offseason. Long was credited with turning Granderson into a big-time performer when both men were with the Yankees. “I wanted to see [Long] before we got things going [at spring camp],” Granderson said. “The opportunity presented itself to get some work in and set forth how we want to be.” 

Granderson is entering the second season of a four-year, $60 million contract with the Mets. 

Report: James Shields decision expected on Monday
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(1:15 am ET) Free-agent pitcher James Shields is expected to make his decision on Monday, according to Bleacher Report. 

Shields was expected to sign with a club either Sunday or Monday, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. The Padres were considered the favorite early on Sunday, with the Cubs seen as a possible threat. 

The 33-year-old Shields posted a 3.21 ERA over 227 innings with the Royals last season. It’s believed Shields will earn close to $20 million annually with his new deal. 

Athletics’ Jarrod Parker looking at June return
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(2/8/2015) Athletics pitcher Jarrod Parker is looking at a possible June return, according to MLB.com.

Parker underwent Tommy John surgery during spring training last season, and is working his way back. Manager Bob Melvin said the team will be careful with Parker, as this is his second time dealing with the surgery. 

Parker posted a 3.97 ERA over 197 innings in 2013. 

A’s pitcher A.J. Griffin not expecting to pitch in spring training
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/8/2015) Athletics pitcher A.J. Griffin is still rehabbing his arm from Tommy John surgery and is feeling good about his progress. If it was up to him, Griffin would be back on the mound already.

“I don’t think I’ll be pitching in any games in spring training, but I’m just excited to get back out there with the guys and be a ballplayer again,” Griffin said.

Griffin missed the entire 2014 season after suffering the elbow injury. He went 14-10 in 2013 with a 3.83 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 200 innings pitched.

“If you have to go through this,” said Griffin, “it’s good to have someone right there with you who’s going through the same thing. It’s been good to have him with me during the process.”