Morning Briefing: Bye Bye, Black Bear

Pitchers and catchers report in one month! It’s been a very quiet offseason, but yesterday the Hot Stove’s wheels started to turn.

Latest Mets News

The Mets invited nine minor-league players to major league spring training. Noteworthy players include slugging first baseman Peter Alonso, southpaw P.J. Conlon and fan favorite Tim Tebow. They will also bring offseason signees Zach Borenstein, Jose Lobaton, Matt Purke and Phillip Evans to spring training. The full list can be viewed here

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com named Peter Alonso as the seventh best first baseman prospect in the Minor Leagues.

Dominant reliever Tyler Bashlor headlines MMN’s list of the top 12-14 prospects in the Mets system.

Jon Morosi of MLB.com indicates that money was the main obstacle in the potential deal that would have sent Andrew McCutchen to Queens.

A pair of roster moves occurred yesterday concerning a pair of relief pitchers. The Mets lost Chasen Bradford via waivers to Seattle Mariners, however Kevin McGowan was not claimed and will return to the Las Vegas 51s in 2018.

David Wright discusses his baseball future with Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Latest Around the MLB

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes about the troubled negotiations between the Players Union and MLB. Union leader Tony Clark and Commissioner Rob Manfred will soon meet to analyze potential changes to improve pace-of-play next season. Manfred believes that a pitch clock and fewer mound visits is necessary to shorten the time of games.

Johan Santana was elected to the Twins Hall of Fame. One can only hope that the Baseball Hall of Fame will soon induct him as well.

Although this isn’t Major League Baseball related, former-Phillie Juan Francisco unleashed a majestic bat-flip yesterday in the Dominican Winter League that can be viewed here.

The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Cardinals in exchange for reliever Dominic Leone and prospect Conner Greene.

Per Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have allegedly offered J.D. Martinez a five year deal worth $125 million.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, The Orioles and Indians have had discussions on a trade centered around Manny Machado.

Latest NL East News

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports writes how Marlins president Michael Hill expects embattled stars Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto to appear at this year’s fanfest.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com hears that the Marlins are targeting Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez.

In a tragic piece of news, an autopsy found amphetamines, morphine and ambien in Roy Halladay‘s body after he died in a tragic plane crash on Nov. 7 2017 .