The Mets cut down their roster by one today, optioning IF Justin Turner to Buffalo. Turner had been in the running for the second base job and was also a candidate to break camp as a utility player. With 2B Luis Castillo released, IF Russ Adams reassigned to Minor League camp, 2B Jordany Valdespin optioned to Binghamton, and IF Ruben Tejada and now Turner optioned to Buffalo the second base competition is now down to four competitors: IF/LF Daniel Murphy, IF Brad Emaus, IF Luis Hernandez, and IF Chin-lung Hu.
Murphy, who was once the front runner at the position, now appears to be in line to break camp as a left-handed bat off the bench and a super-sub (he might be able to play as many as five positions), especially now that OF/1B Lucas Duda may break camp as the team's starting right fielder. Hu is still in the running for the job but is also the most intriguing candidate to win the utility infielder job.
Which leaves Emaus and Hernandez. Emaus is a Rule V pick, and will likely go back to the Blue Jays if he is cut. His Rule V status may give him a slight edge over Hernandez. Rumors began swirling today after Turner was optioned that the Mets may attempt to trade Hernandez before Opening Day, indicating that Emaus, Hu, and Murphy will be the three second baseman (out of ten) to break camp with the team, and that Emaus may be the starter.
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