No doubt about it — Mike Moustakas is lean. Now the question is, will his bat be mean? Moose thinks so. His trimmer physique coupled with a productive winter session in Venezuela have him revved up for a lighter and brighter 2014.

Nelson Cruz and his agent are in discussions with the Mariners on a multiyear contract, according to a report Tuesday by CBSSports.com. Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik has a policy of not commenting on contract negotiations but acknowledged at Mariners FanFest last week that he would “love” to have Cruz in the lineup.

Christian Yelich has found a home in left field since Miami acquired Jake Marisnick. But if plans change for some reason and the Marlins are in need of a center fielder, Yelich is agreeable to shuffling back once again.

Jameis Winston, who led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and a national championship on the gridiron, was named a third-team All-American in Baseball America’s preseason college baseball preview, released on Monday.

Pirates hurlers Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow have the edge on the Rockies’ Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler as the game’s top pair of pitching prospects MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.

In right-handers Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, the Rockies have the best pair of pitching prospects in baseball. And no tandem is as crucial to its club’s future success.

It’s important to remember that while the Rangers recognized the need for changes to their lineup after last season’s disappointing finish, they were far from an abomination, ranking eighth in the Majors in runs scored. And now GM Jon Daniels has assembled a club even more capable.

Signups are underway for the annual MLB.TV Premium ($129.99) and basic MLB.TV ($109.99) packages as the Internet’s longest-running and No. 1 sports streaming product returns for a 12th season, priced the same as last year.

The D-backs on Monday did what good organizations almost always do. They cast a vote for continuity. Here’s betting we look back on this day nine months from now and see the decision to extend the contracts of general manager Kevin Towers and skipper Kirk Gibson through at least the 2015 season as a smart one.

With the D-backs and Dodgers opening the regular season March 22 at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia, the two clubs will be the first teams reporting to their respective Spring Training sites.

Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will miss the first six to eight weeks of the season after undergoing minor arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow last week.

With just three days remaining before pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, the D-backs might not be done adding to their roster. D-backs team president and CEO Derrick Hall said that the team will make one more pass through its free-agent list to see if a match can be found.

In the Inbox, Anthony DiComo disputes a fan claim that Dillon Gee is the Mets’ best pitcher, and he discusses how the team will use Ruben Tejada and Josh Satin.

As the Cubs’ third-base coach last season, David Bell had a front-row seat for 19 games to watch the Cardinals’ offense, one coached by Bell’s former teammate John Mabry. The impression it left was strong, which is why he leapt at the chance to join the organization when the Cardinals called him regarding a coaching vacancy.

Blue Jays prospect A.J. Jimenez is finally over a right elbow injury that has plagued him for the past two years, and the catcher could be poised for a breakout season in the Minor Leagues.

Andrew Heaney is a highly touted lefty poised to make his case once pitchers and catchers begin Spring Training on Feb. 16 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.

The urgency of the calendar hasn’t prevented teams from being excruciatingly patient when it comes to the still-desirable and still-very-much-available free agents who have to be wondering where to ship their belongings for the six weeks of Grapefruit or Cactus League play. Some of these players could ink new deals in the week ahead.