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Tim Tebow signs minor-league deal with Mets, report says

Tebow signed with the New York Mets on Thursday, and the team announced that he would be assigned to the instructional league.

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That didn’t stop Mets management from signing the 29-year-old athlete.

Tim Tebow is returning the the Big Apple, but it won’t be to play for the Jets or Giants.

“The goal would be to have a career in the big leagues”, Tebow said after the showcase.

The decision to sign him was made by Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.

“This was not something that was driven by marketing considerations or anything of the sort. We are extremely intrigued with the potential that Tim has”. I feel comfortable at first base.

“Tim is committed to his role at SEC Network and ESPN this fall”, said Stephanie Druley, ESPN senior vice president, event and studio production, in a statement. He won two national championships as the quarterback for the Gators and played in the NFL for the Jets and Denver Broncos between 2010 and 2012. But, we all know how that turned out, ” said Tebow with a self-deprecating laugh. “I appreciate Mr. Alderson understanding that I have my word to it and I have to fulfill it”. During the week I’ll be training as hard as I can. I don’t view it as not taking it seriously.

“For me, you pursue what you love regardless of what else happens”.

Tebow’s agent for baseball, Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters a number of pro teams remained to meet with Tebow following his workout a week ago.

Tebow’s baseball game needs a lot of work, which is why the Mets are sending him to the instructional league, but he’s not going to be there every day.

This is not the Mets trying something insane that nobody else would think to do, as there were multiple teams with reported interest in signing Tebow for the exact same reason, that he is a world-class athlete with good leadership qualities who has some baseball talent and maybe, just maybe, could turn out to be a major leaguer someday. Before Alderson said it was possible Tebow could be invited to camp in five months, he should’ve asked Rex Ryan and Woody Johnson how their own attention grab worked out. Instructional leagues are where teams start the earliest stages of development on players either needing experience or long-injured players go to get back some game speed during their rehab process. “This is an opportunity”, Alderson would say, “for us to associate with excellence”.

Alderson: “Everyone will point to reasons why (Tebow) can’t make it. I think it’s a good story”. We promise more than rudimentary baseball skills.

“It’s not a typical one-off player evaluation in the sense that we evaluate the tools and make a judgment. We are willing to spend x number of years to find out if he can”.

Tebow played last in baseball in 2005.

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Tebow’s whole life has a reality show feel to it, and his foray into baseball seems like a means to a wholly unrelated end.

Tim Tebow the former quarterback with the NFL Denver Broncos and New York Jets signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets Thursday morning