Reds, Joey Votto Nearing Extension  —  5:59pm: It's a ten-year, $225MM contract according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).  The deal eclipses Fielder's nine-year, $214MM with the Tigers.  —  5:20pm: Heyman hears that the deal is ten total years and worth almost exactly $200MM (Twitter links).

Josh Beckett getting exam but is expected to make his first start  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Josh Beckett has a thumb injury that is being checked out today in San Antonio, Texas.  But manager Bobby Valentine said he “totally” expects Beckett to start against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Details of Matt Cain's new contract  —  UPDATE FROM HENRY SCHULMAN, REPORTING FROM INTERSTATE 5: As we reported, this is a five-year, $112.5 million extension with club option for 2018 that vests automatically for $21 million if Cain hits an innings target in 2017.

Greinke mum on Cain comparison  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke had no trouble giving an honest assessment of the “meatballs” he threw at the Chicago White Sox on Monday.  But when the questions turned off the field, to the competitor with the big, new contract, he got quiet.

Braves reliever Martinez arrested for DUI - updated  —  Braves reliever Cristhian Martinez was arrested early Monday morning in Gwinnett County on charges of DUI, after allegedly weaving in and out of a lane and traveling at a low speed on I-85, confirmed Gwinnett County police spokesman Corporal Jake Smith.

Reds LH Chapman moved back to bullpen  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Left-hander Aroldis Chapman is headed back to the Cincinnati Reds' injury-depleted bullpen after spending spring training getting ready to be a starter.  —  Chapman, entering his third season with Cincinnati …

Hudson has first outing of spring for Braves  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Tim Hudson made his first appearance of the spring, allowing an infield single over two innings for the Atlanta Braves in an 8-2 loss to the New York Mets.  —  Ruben Tejada hit a three-run homer and Bobby Parnell allowed two hits over three innings for New York.

Fielder, Young power Tigers past Blue Jays  —  Drew Smyly started fast and then faded in his first outing since winning a job in Detroit's rotation, but the Tigers got home runs from Prince Fielder and Delmon Young in an 11-8 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Upton targeting return by mid-April  —  CF B.J. Upton said he is making good progress in his recovery from back soreness and is targeting a rerturn during the April 10-19 roadtrip to Detroit, Boston and Toronto.  —  “That's what we're shooting for,” Upton said this morning.

Jimenez gets five-game ban for hitting Tulowitzki … GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was suspended for five games and fined by Major League Baseball on Monday for intentionally throwing at Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki during a spring training game.

The powerful piece of paper that is the Tampa Bay Rays lease  —  The threat begins on page 32 of the document.  It doesn't sound scary at all.  —  And, yet, it is the reason politicians, business leaders and maybe even the commissioner of baseball are careful what they say about a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.