As to why Tebow hadn’t tried his hand at baseball earlier, he said, “Honestly, it’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a little while and came close to pulling the trigger previous year, going through a day of training for baseball”. Without knowing the details of the deal, assuming the Mets did not break the bank – or affect future major league payroll – why shouldn’t they give Tebow a try?
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Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told ESPN that the signing is not a publicity stunt.
The 29-year-old former Heisman Trophy player – who has not played for an National Football League team since being released by the Philadelphia Eagles after their pre-season in 2015 – is hoping to switch sports to baseball. Tebow had preseason workouts with the New England Patriots in 2013 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015.
Tebow, a high school baseball player, did a tryout for MLB teams.
Tebow hasn’t played organized baseball since his junior year in 2005 at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida, the Mets stated in a news release.
“We’re mindful of the fact that at age 29 Tim is starting this endeavor and there is a certain amount of realism that we have to accept”, Alderson said.
While Tebow said this isn’t about money, he has been trying to capitalize on the newly found interest in him and his possible baseball career.
“For me, you pursue what you love regardless of what else happens”.
“Are you insinuating we need a Hail Mary at this point?” They are now overloaded on corner outfield/first base types. “As Mr. Alderson said, you have to give it a break”.
If this venture ends the way most people expect it to, Tebow will get discouraged by the bus trips and the failure in the minors and go back to his TV work with ESPN.
It’s unlikely that Tebow ever reaches the majors and it’s a bit of a sideshow, but it’s also kind of interesting.
Could Tim Tebow be playing at Cashman Field next season? Alderson quipped on August 9 when first asked about the former Jets quarterback.
Not just the Mets will be watching Tebow’s progress.
He was traded the following season to the New York Jets when Denver signed free agent Peyton Manning.
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Honestly, I think that Vitale is right: there’s no downside here for the Mets.
