On Sunday, his command was off for the first time, as he managed just one strikeout against six walks, a shocking development considering he had a 22-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio coming into that start.

His two-run double Sunday helped key a huge win for Cleveland and gave him hits in five straight games and a .429 mark for the past week. Cabrera’s extra-base pop – considered somewhat of a fluke last year – has been even more impressive so far in 2012, and he’s also substantially upped his walk rate in the early going. If Cabrera can consolidate his 2011 gains, we’ll have to start considering him an upper tier shortstop real soon.

Still, regardless of Votto’s MVP-calibre play, signing a first baseman to that long a deal and giving him that much money seems unwise to us.

We’re now a couple of weeks into the season, and one thing has become painfully clear. The Chicago Cubs’ offense, which was middling last season, has sunk to among the worse in the majors this year.

Well, if you’re going to take a flier, we suggest plucking Santiago, who is widely available, but sure won’t be for long once that first save opportunity is served up to him.

Through the first four seasons of the five-year, $90-million deal Hunter signed to join the Angels, he’s accumulated a WAR of 12.5 which compares favourably to the 11.3 he totaled over his final four seasons in Minnesota.

He’s mostly recovered from the weight loss and is expected to get into a game by Monday. Unfortunately, there’s still no clear path for playing time in the bigs for the Angels’ top prospect. This team really needs to clear some space for Trout, who as things stand, is ticketed for Triple-A.