There’s also the fact that the Mets shrewdly offered Alonso the qualifying offer. This made him less attractive to opposing teams because they’d lose a draft pick if they signed him. These negotiations and this prove-yourself contract could bring out the best in Alonso, who Stearns says is a “really motivated player right now.”

The president of baseball operations indicated that the probability of a big add is quite low...at least for spring training. That means — most likely — no elite starting pitcher, no extra late-inning reliever,

Even when it looked as though the Mets were ready to move on from the Polar Bear, a reunion never felt far off.