Jonathan Albaladejo arrives in camp with hot new body

Jonathan Albaladejo, going the Papi way, has lost 30 pounds, according to spring training insider gossip police.

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Nobody recognizes him. "Fatso-ladejo" no longer. Now, he's sleek. He's hot. He's hunky. He's eating brocoli and wearing two-piece leotards. Grrrrrowwww.

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Let's hope it's a good sign, because Albaladejo (Next, can he please lose a few letters in his last name?) still hasn't justified the trading of Tyler Clippard in the Scranton megadeal of three years ago. And -- though youth has its ways -- it says something about a pro athlete who doesn't care enough about his body that he would eat himself up to 290 pounds, as Alba says he did last year. Some players show focus. Some players show Happy Meals.

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Maybe he stopped eating when Southwest Airlines denied him a seat. Or maybe when he heard the Yankees signed Chan Ho Park. Because right now, our bullpen needs to shed about 800 pounds, and Alba is going to need a great spring to make this team.

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Let's hope it's not too late.

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Why is it that, so often, the sign of a guy finally wising up... is also one that the end is near?