Jake Odorizzi doesn’t care what you call his new offspeed pitch. He just hope it helps him get outs. Odorizzi, who’s firmly in the competition for Tampa Bay’s fifth slot in the rotation, is working on a split-finger pitch this spring that he and Alex Cobb jokingly call “The Thing.”

David Murphy did not post Murphy-esque numbers his final year in Texas, but he knows why. This year in Cleveland, he’s shortening his swing and maintaining an “easy approach” at the plate.

David Ortiz and Mike Napoli, the top two sluggers for the defending World Series champion Red Sox, hit towering home runs to fuel a 6-2 victory over the Rays on Monday afternoon at JetBlue Park. Ace Jon Lester made his first start of the spring, firing three innings of one-hit ball. The lefty walked one and struck out four.

Barry Bonds put on a San Francisco Giants uniform for the first time in 6 1/2 years Monday and returned to the team as a special hitting coach for one week of Spring Training.

Reliever Francisco Rodriguez threw a live batting practice session on Sunday and is on track to make his first spring appearance on Thursday, when the Brewers travel to Peoria to play the Padres. He’ll also throw a light bullpen session on Wednesday.

Former Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt arrived in Arizona late Sunday night, and on Monday morning was at Colorado’s Spring Training complex to continue rehabbing following Tommy John surgery in hopes of returning to the Majors this season.

Justin Smoak had said earlier this spring he figured first base was his to lose, but manager Lloyd McClendon is now more definitive about the 27-year-old switch-hitter’s status.

Chris Sale was officially named the White Sox Opening Day starter by manager Robin Ventura on Monday.

Reds manager Bryan Price knows the value of a deep bullpen, and he likes the pieces he has in place for 2014. But Price is also well aware of just how fickle the game of baseball can be to a relief corps.

Outfielder Wil Myers is in the business of producing runs, but the Rays would like to see him increase his skill in preventing them. Manager Joe Maddon said Monday that he has challenged Myers, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, to try to win a Gold Glove this season.

The Dodgers received more good news on the recoveries of pitcher Zack Greinke and outfielder Matt Kemp. Greinke threw a bullpen session and apparently felt no discomfort in his right calf muscle.

Aledmys Diaz participated in his first workout as a member of the organization on Monday, a day after the Cardinals announced they had signed the Cuban shortstop to a four-year contract.

Instead of attempting to complete the four innings he was slated to pitch on Monday, Braves right-hander Brandon Beachy exited after two innings and confirmed he has felt some tightness around his right elbow and biceps muscle over the past couple of weeks.

In his first meeting with reporters Monday since rupturing his left biceps tendon on March 2, Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin made no apologies for his decision to attempt a diving catch during a Spring Training game.

Top prospect Jameson Taillon was reassigned to Minor League camp, fellow right-hander Casey Sadler was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and lefty Joely Rodriguez was optioned to Double-A Altoona.

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias continues to work out back at the Tigertown complex in Lakeland as he tries to work past the soreness in his shins that has cost him a week and a half of action.

While the Yankees spent aggressively this past winter to fill holes at the big league level, the club knows that it must have a more productive season from the farm system in 2014 to better compete in the long term.