Fantasy general managers expected huge things from Cubs catcher Geovany Soto last season. What they got was zilch, nada, nothing.

Soto's earlier work created these expectations. In his first full major league season, he hit 35 doubles and 23 homers, building an .868 OPS. He also hit .285 and drove in 86 runs. Since he batted .389 in 54 big-league at bats in 2007, he appeared upward bound – despite his 121 strikeouts in 2008.

But last season he batted just .218 in 331 at bats. His OPS sank to .702. He hit 11 homers and drove in 47 runs. Nagging injuries (shoulder and oblique strains) hampered him, as did his obvious conditioning issues.

So Soto set out to lose 40 pounds to get in good shape for spring training.

“I felt I needed to do something, I felt I needed to go to the next level,” Soto told MLB.com. “I felt I needed to show my teammates I'm really into this, I really want to play, I want to play hard, I'm committed to this and I want to win.

“First and foremost, I did it for me, because I feel better. I love the Cubs and I want to win. That's the bottom line.”

Soto hopes to become another bounce-back player in 2010. Here are some more player stocks to watch closely:

Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians: He was a statistical monster in 2008, hitting 33 homers and stealing 38 bases. He drove in 90 runs and posted an .876 OPS. He soared toward the top of most draft boards. And then last year brought disaster: .248, 18 HR, 64 RBI, .788 OPS in 436 at bats. A nagging elbow injury and a sports hernia got the best of him.

Keep an eye on him through the early portion of spring training, just in case.

Roy Oswalt, SP, Astros: As this franchise regroups under new manager Brad Mills, Oswalt is trying to get back to full strength. After winning 31 games in 2007-08, he went 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA and 16 no-decisions in 30 starts last season. He finally shut down after struggling with chronic back trouble most of the campaign.

He dedicated his offseason to building up his core muscle group. He insists his ’09 struggle was not the beginning of major decline. “I think people read into it a little too much it,” Oswalt told MLB.com. “I'll be ready when it gets time to go. This new workout stuff should help a lot.”

Jose Guillen, DH, Royals: A full-time shift from the outfield ought to help him stay healthier. He suffered hip flexor and knee injuries last season and batted just 281 times (.242, eight doubles, nine homers, 40 RBI). The previous two seasons combined he hit 70 doubles, 43 homers and drove in 196 runs.

Since he is earning $13 million, Kansas City is committed to getting him as many at bats a possible this season -- despite its crowded offensive roster.

Ervin Santana, SP, Angels: Back in 2008, he went 16-7 with a 3.69 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 219 innings. He was one of the AL’s most valuable pitchers. But he suffered an elbow injury during the spring, then developed a triceps strain in the same area. He made just 24 starts, finished 8-8 and posted an icky 5.03 ERA. He reported to the bullpen for the playoffs.

His fastball and slider appeared to come back late in the year, setting the stage for his bounce-back attempt this season.

Chris Young, OF, Diamondbacks: At the end of September, he was threatening to end the 2009 season at the Mendoza Line. His finishing 9-for-27 flourish pushed his average all the way up to .212 for the season, with just 15 homers and 42 RBI in 433 at bats. This is the same player who hit 32 homers with 27 stolen bases in 2007 and 42 doubles, seven triples, 22 homers with 85 RBI in ’08.

Young has always had holes in his swing – as his .235 career big league batting average indicates – but last season was ridiculous. He tried to relocate his swing at the Class AAA level, where he batted .370 in 13 games for Reno of the Pacific Coast League.

He showed signs of offensive progress at the big league level after returning from that stint, but he bears close watching.

Carlos Zambrano, SP, Cubs: Nagging injuries limited him to 28 starts and a 9-7 record – after he won 14, 18, 16, 14, 16 and 13 games in his previous six seasons. That struggled prompted him to work into peak physical condition during the offseason.

“I rest only for about two weeks after the season,” Zambrano told a Chicago radio show. “After that, I've been working in the gym . . . When I was here in the winter and fall, from October, November and half of December, I was training with a guy I met in a gym, and I was training boxing.”

Russell Martin, C, Dodgers: In his first three big league seasons, he batted .282, .293 and .280. He also hit 57 doubles and 32 homers in 2007-08. But he struggled for most of last season, batting .250 overall with just seven homers and 53 RBI. He defense and pitch calling was so good he stayed in the lineup despite failing to hit – and that only deepened his ‘09 offensive funk.

Can he get a batter start this season and hold up under his huge workload?