The New York Mets have (thus far) invited twenty players not on the 40-man roster to spring training.

They are as follows:

According to Adam Rubin, Mets closer Bobby Parnell has been cleared to pitch:

New York Mets closer Bobby Parnell, who underwent Sept. 10 surgery in California for a herniated disk in his neck, has been fully cleared for baseball activities.

After attending David Wright‘s wedding, Parnell stayed on the West Coast to be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins, who had performed the procedure.

Watkins cleared Parnell for full baseball activities. Parnell is expected to resume closing games for the Mets this season. He converted 22 of 26 chances last season.

“He looked terrific — toned, strong, limber,” said one person who recently saw Parnell.

Parnell had lost roughly 30 pounds while dealing with the herniated disk.

This is a key development for the Mets bullpen. The back end of the bullpen would be a huge question mark if Parnell were not ready for Opening Day. They’d have to figure out who would close, and who would handle the eighth inning. If Parnell is ready, the concern then shifts to who sets him up, which is less of a problem – but still an important one.

Right now, Vic Black, who has 18 major league appearances under his belt, looks like the front runner for the eighth inning role. The team is also looking to acquire a veteran to possibly fill that role (someone like LaTroy Hawkins – but he’s in Denver now).

LHP Josh Edgin, LHP Scott Rice, RHP Carlos Torres, RHP Jeurys Familia, and RHP Gonzalez Germen are leading candidates to round out the bullpen in 2014. Newly acquired RHP Ryan Reid may also be in the conversation along with minor league lefty Jack Leathersitch and RHP Jeff Walters.

Sorry for the late notice, but the Irish baseball fund raiser at Foley’s tonight has been canceled. Apparently, Jeff Nelson could not get into town in time due to his flight being grounded.

Hopefully the event will be re-scheduled. In the meantime, if you’re planning to go to Foley’s, you’ll still have a great time enjoying the food, beer, and banter — all the while immersed in an astounding array of baseball memorabilia trumped only by a hall in Cooperstown.

Yet another New York Met and former 300-game winner will enter the Baseball Hall of Fame: Tom Glavine.

Former Mets GM Jim Duquette and former Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson (as well as yours truly) will be at Foley’s in Manhattan (18 W 33rd St, across the street from the Empire State Building) TONIGHT beginning at 7 PM for a night to raise funds for baseball programs in Ireland. Money raised will go to travel and shipping expenses for baseball clinics in Ireland.

A group of baseball scouts and players – known as the Baseball Miracles group – will be traveling to Ireland in to hold clinics in Limerick and Dublin on January 18 and 19. As part of the clinics, over 1,000 lbs. of donated baseball equipment will be shipped to kids in Ireland.

For more info and to make an online donation, visit the Baseball United Foundation website, Facebook page, and Google+ page.

Three years ago, I posted an article that generated 117 comments – Mike Piazza and the Steroid Issue. I’d rather not re-open that specific can of worms, but encourage you to re-visit the post (as well as the comments).

Rather, I’d like to bring up the topic of “The Steroid Era” in MLB as it pertains to Baseball Hall of Fame voting.

Stop the presses! The Mets have signed Taylor Teagarden!

Scott Atchison has agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training with the Cleveland Indians.