It's official: B.J. is now Melvin Upton Jr.  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It's official: B.J. Upton is now Melvin Upton Jr. on your scorecard.  —  The Braves center fielder is listed as Melvin Upton Jr. on the Braves' spring training roster, and Upton Jr. is on the back of the Braves jersey …

Rangers May Pick Up Adrian Beltre's 2016 Option  —  Adrian Beltre's contract can be voided prior to the 2016 season if he doesn't reach 586 plate appearances this season.  However, Rangers GM Jon Daniels says that he's considering taking that clause out of the equation and bringing him back regardless …

Choate hopes to resume specialist role  —  JUPITER, Fla. _ Veteran lefthander Randy Choate and Matheny have discussed Choate's occasional unhappiness last year that he wasn't used as much for lefthander-on-lefthander specialty purposes, which basically why Choate was given a three-year contract before the 2013 season.

Baseball Notes: Bochy returns to Giants helm after heart procedure  —  Bruce Bochy watched Giants pitchers and catchers while a song by Waylon Jennings wafted over the sound system at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona.  —  All was OK for the San Francisco manager.

Spring flings serious business for Reds pitchers  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It has all the awkward tension of a junior-high dance: Nobody wants to be left out, everyone has an ideal mate in their head and the consequences can last an entire month.  —  Reds pitchers and catchers had their first workout Thursday …

Angels' Albert Pujols might need an Olympic break in a few years  —  Albert Pujols raised the possibility of retiring before his 10-year, $240-million contract expires in 2021, but not for the reasons one might think.  —  The Angels first baseman, who turned 35 in January …

TAMPA — Multiple bids are in on Cuban infield prodigy Yoan Moncada, and bidding is believed past $20 million, perhaps significantly so.  —  The Yankees, Red Sox and Padres are believed among teams in talks, with even the Dodgers and others seen as less likely at the moment.

Amaro apologizes to Howard  —  Before departing for Clearwater, Ruben Amaro Jr. reached out to Ryan Howard and asked him to come into the office.  —  Within the last two weeks, the embattled general manager spoke with the beleaguered first baseman.  Amaro, mainly, wanted to make amends …

No surprise, Teheran expected to start opening day  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - In what should come as a surprise to no one, the Braves are planning to name All-Star Julio Teheran their opening day starter for the second consecutive season.  —  Manager Fredi Gonzalez probably won't announce …

Yankees' CC Sabathia enters spring training at 305 pounds, knows he has a lot to prove in 2015  —  TAMPA — Size matters.  Just ask CC Sabathia.  —  The former AL Cy Young winner reported to Yankees camp tipping the scales at 305 pounds, admitting that his drastic weight loss in 2013 and '14 might have affected him more than he knew.

David Price, Tigers expect max effort to strike deal  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - David Price joked with the Detroit Tigers clubhouse attendants Sundays, signed autographs for nearly 45 minutes, pumped fists with teammates' kids, and strolled out of the door for a leisurely drive back to his Tampa condo.

How to Pitch a Perfect Game at Your Oscar Party  —  Hello.  I'm John Axford, a Major League Baseball pitcher who happens to watch a ton of films when I'm not chasing my toddlers around the house attempting to feed them, or cultivating my award-winning mustache.  Last year, I went 18-for-18 picking the Oscars on Twitter.