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Report: Astros decline option on Will Harris

By Bill BaerNov 1, 2018, 6:46 PM EST
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Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Astros have declined the 2019 option for reliever Will Harris worth $5.5 million. Because Harris doesn’t yet have six years of service time, the Astros still have club control over him and can strike a new deal with him by November 30.

Harris, 34, has been a stalwart in the Astros’ bullpen over the last four seasons. In 2018, he compiled a 3.49 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 14 walks in 56 2/3 innings.

Harris will presumably be back in Houston next year helping bridge the gap to closer Roberto Osuna.

B.J. Upton is going by B.J. Upton again

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By Bill BaerJan 15, 2019, 7:14 PM EST
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Outfielder B.J. Upton went by the name B.J., short for Bossman Junior, through the 2014 season. His father Manny was known as Bossman, hence Bossman Junior. Upton decided he wanted to be referred to by his birth name Melvin starting in 2015, saying that everyone except baseball fans knew him by that name. Now, he’s back to B.J., Scott Boeck of USA TODAY Sports reports.

For those keeping score at home, Upton is the artist formerly and currently known as B.J.

Upton, 34, hasn’t played in the majors since 2016. He signed a minor league deal with the Indians in December 2017 but was released in the middle of last March and wasn’t able to latch on with another team. It seems unlikely he finds his way back to the majors.