Tim Tebow adds wall crashing catch to his minor league highlight reel

Tim Tebow continues to simultaneously blur and highlight his reputation as minor league baseball's most intriguing player — making it hard for anyone to hate the guy.

Since being called up to the New York Mets' Single-A St. Lucie team — and on the same day Mets GM Sandy Alderson admitted Tebow was more of a gimmick than a latent talent — the former NFL star is starting to look like he deserved the promotion even though it might be better suited to the gridiron than the diamond.

On Friday night, a day after Tebow homered in his second game, the bruising outfielder went Wildcat and can now add a wall crushing catch to his baseball reel.

Just call him 5-Tool Tim Tebow 😮 (via @AMcDevittTV) https://t.co/H9QmzlMRge pic.twitter.com/sWn8207nsE

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 1, 2017

Alderson was pretty blunt on the Tebow signing claiming the Mets didn’t sign the former quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner because they saw some hidden talent in him. It wasn’t a “baseball decision,” as Alderson said at the time.

“Look, we signed him because he is a good guy, partly because of his celebrity, partly because this is an entertainment business,” Alderson said. “My attitude is ‘Why not?’ ”

Despite his paltry .220/.311/.336 stats and only three home runs in 64 games with Single-A Columbia, Tebow was conspicuously promoted last week. 

Tebow went 0-for-2 last night but, like Alderson said, it's all about the show.  And if the losing Mets continue to be as entertaining as they are now, expect to see Tebowing (remember that?) at Citi Field this fall.

Botched Mets deal has Wilmer Flores in tears during game (VIDEO)

Just when things seem to be going right for the New York Mets, as usual, the organization found some way to botch things up.

It was a bizarre, stunning and tear-filled night for the Mets, who agreed to a reported trade that would have sent Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez to New York for potential front-end right-hander Zack Wheeler and developing infielder Wilmer Flores.

When Flores, back starting at shortstop in place of Ruben Tejada, came off the field in the middle innings of Wednesday night's game at Citi Field, he first learned from fans near the dugout that the Mets had agreed to trade him to Milwaukee.

The shaken Flores' ordeal was then played out on the SNY broadcast, and with tears in his eyes, he still took the field one inning later.

Mets Wilmer Flores crying on field, still playing even though he's been traded - Streamable http://t.co/W6q2dkATqK

— Víctor Tovar ® (@VictorTovar91) July 30, 2015

“I heard from the fans, there was this rumor I was going to get traded. The fans were yelling for me,” Flores said. “When I came up, I heard everyone cheering, and I thought that was the only reason.“It was difficult to be out there, but nothing happened. But that’s what they told me, there’s no deal.”

It wasn't long after the Flores tears and near-completion of the blockbuster deal that everything came to an embarrassing conclusion — the trade was off.

“[The trade] has not and will not transpire,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters late Wednesday night.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson blames social media for Wilmer Flores crying during game. pic.twitter.com/O7ZnFrZFSf

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 30, 2015

The glitch came when the Mets were going over Gomez’s medicals. He was on the disabled list in April and into May with a hamstring issue, and he missed time last month with an ailing hip. And the Mets didn't were uncomfortable with that.

After a standing ovation for Flores by Mets fans in the seventh inning, injured Mets veterans David Wright and Michael Cuddyer followed Flores into the clubhouse before the game ended, thinking they were going to console a traded teammate.

“They just gave me a hug and told me that it’s nothing bad, it’s good,” Flores said. “But there’s no trade. I’m coming here tomorrow.”

Rehabbing Matt Harvey still wants 'one inning' in 2014: Report

Once again Matt Harvey said he's ready to take the next big step in his rehab and get onto the mound this season — during a game.

The Mets ace — who has been cleared begin throwing from a mound in Port St. Lucie next week for the first time since rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last October, wants a real game stint, according to the N.Y. Post.

It's a song and dance the Mets have heard from Matt Harvey before. But this time, it seems like the team's pitching headliner only wants to tap a couple of steps and hum a few bars.

“Even if it was one inning out of the bullpen, I would be happy,” Harvey said.

Harvey hasn't let go of his dream of throwing in 2014, even after general manager Sandy Alderson put the kibosh on that notion last month.

The right-hander said there are tentative plans for him to pitch in the Mets’ instructional league in September and then appear in the Arizona Fall League.

“If I’m going to pitch in Arizona, what difference does it make if I pitch there or pitch here [for the Mets]?” Harvey said.

But Alderson is likely to play it cautious with the impatient Harvey — who underwent the ligament replacement surgery on Oct. 22 of last year. Normal recovery is 10-14 months before a pitcher returns to the major leagues.

“I’m dying,” Harvey said. “When I start ramping things up and feeling I can throw full throttle and pump it up to mid-90s [mph], which I believe I am doing right now, it’s definitely going to be hard.”

Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, recently said research on the subject points to waiting until 14-16 months after the surgery for optimal recovery.

The Mets backed off Harvey from his rehab in early June, worried that he was moving too quickly in the process. Alderson later left the open a crack, saying the earliest Harvey could return is Sept. 22 — the 11-month anniversary of his surgery. The Mets conclude the season on Sept. 28.

Harvey has made no apology for his eagerness to return this season — even if the Mets have almost no chance of making the playoffs.

“I miss being out there,” he said. “That’s the fun part. It’s tough to talk about.”

Matt Harvey wants to pitch this season and Mets might relent: Report

Matt Harvey is planning to pitch this season — and the Mets might actually be down with his quest to get back on the mound sooner than later.

Might be.

Less than three weeks away from throwing off a mound for the first time since his Oct. 22 Tommy John surgery, the rehabbing Mets righthander said Tuesday the idea of pitching for the club in August or September felt “possible.”

Harvey wants to be pitching by August, telling Sports Illustrated that coming back well ahead of the typical 12-month recovery time for Tommy John surgery will give him "peace of mind."

"Of course, I won't do it unless I'm cleared to do it," Harvey said. "But I want to pitch before the year ends. I want to make five, six, seven starts this year. I asked , 'If I want to come back in August, when do I need to start throwing off a mound?' They said June 10. So, that's what we have penciled in right now. That's the plan."

General manager Sandy Alderson said he can understand why injured players want to return early, though to him it's an "open question" whether it is counterproductive for players recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“I don’t think the original schedule has changed. He is still scheduled to go on the mound in early June,” Alderson said. “Whether he comes back this year or next will be a function of how he rehabs once he gets back on the mound. It will also be subject to the best medical information we can obtain, from our doctors and whatever other information that is out there that might shed light on what’s an appropriate recovery time.”

But a cautious Alderson will stand his ground if necessary.

"But the one thing we don't want to do is be put in a situation [where] someone, Matt or anyone else, has a setback because we've pushed a natural recovery process further than we should have," he added.

Matt Harvey rehabs with model Asha Leo at Knicks game (PHOTO)

Maybe Matt Harvey does have this rehab stuff down pat.

The Mets ace — who said he intends to return to the mound this season after Tommy John surgery —was spotted at Sunday’s Knicks game alongside British fashion model Asha Leo, reported Page Six of The New York Post.

Although the Mets aren't taking any chances on Harvey pushing an early return, the All-Star believes he can come back in 2014.

But apparently, when it comes to healing from his recent breakup with model Anne V, there is no such time frame and Harvey took full advantage of that with a new lady on his valuable arm.

Next to Tracy Morgan and Phil Collins.

Harvey wasn’t in violation of his rehab agreement with general manager Sandy Alderson, according to a team spokesman.

Under that agreement, Harvey can rehab with the Mets when they are home, but must work out at their spring-training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., when the team is on the road. The Mets are six games into a nine-game road trip.

Even so, Sundays are off days for all rehabbing players and that's where his new flame pitched in. 

Harvey flew to New York after his Saturday workout, according to a source, and will resume rehabbing in Port St. Lucie on Monday.

Sundays just got a lot better for Harvey.

Jay Z secretly shopping Robinson Cano to Mets: Report

While the notion of Robinson Cano leaving the New York Yankees has Bomber fans clutching their chests, it remains a good possibility. Especially since the two parties are about $140 million apart in their preliminary talks. But the real heartbreak might come if this year's most sought after free agent took his skills cross-borough from the Bronx over to Queens?

There's no question that Cano is looking to cash in with Jay Z as his new hands-on agent and staying in pinstripes is a top priority, but the N.Y. Post is reporting that the rap mogul had a secret meeting Monday night shopping the All-Star to the rival Mets.

The hip-hop impresario joined Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, general manager Sandy Alderson and assistant general manager John Ricco for dinner at a posh Manhattan hotel to discuss Cano’s free agency, two sources familiar with the situation told The Post. Cano’s group, which also featured agents Brodie Van Wagenen and Juan Perez, initiated the meeting; Cano himself didn’t attend.

While Alderson stated last week to say he couldn’t envision the Mets taking on another player with a contract as big as Cano's projected deal, that doesn't mean he can't kick the tires of the best free agent on the market. 

Cano's reps asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $310 million contract, and the Yankees countered with a seven-year offer for between $161 and $168 million. Those are expensive Michelins.

The Yankees have not held extensive talks with Cano’s representatives since free agency began, and they’re unlikely to be shaken by this meeting, given the Mets’ stated salary-commitment intentions and their payroll-slashing of the last three years. Besides, the Mets have a capable second baseman in Daniel Murphy. Not that the tradable Murphy would stand in the Mets' way of getting a player of Cano's caliber.

Cano going to the Mets is definitely a long shot. But the Mets simply had little to lose by agreeing to this meeting. And, in fact, will probably get a little respect from their fans in doing so.    

Jay Z has made it clear his representation of Cano is about marketing as well as baseball, and staying in New York with the Mets would give still Cano as many marketing opportunities as he had with the Yankees — maybe more.

Santana likely to miss entire Mets season — maybe more

It looks like Johan Santana may never throw a pitch for the New York Mets ever again after an MRI exam reveal a possible re-tear on his left shoulder.

General manager Sandy Alderson announced the news on Thursday evening, saying Santana underwent the MRI in New York and would decide over the weekend whether to have the same surgery he had in September 2010, according to The New York Post.

Alderson said the second surgery is a strong possibility.

"We don’t know when it happened, how it happened," Alderson said. "What we do know is that at some point, symptoms appeared, and they worsened, rather than improved. It’s possible Johan will be able to shed more light on that, but at this point we simply don’t know."

Santana, in the final season of a six-year, $137.5 million contract, likely won't pitch this year, and it remains to be seen if he will ever pitch again.

Much has been made of Santana's slide after his workhorse-like no-hitter last June 1.  After the historic 134-pitch Mets' first no-no, he struggled through ten games before being put on the DL for an inflamed back.  Santana never seemed to really recover.

The lefthander experienced weakness in his left shoulder during spring training and was flown to New York on Wednesday for an examination by Dr. David Altcheck, who made the original diagnosis of a re-tear. The diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews and Dr, Lewis Yocum on Thursday.

It's hard to pinpoint when the possible re-tear occurred because Santana has been resting a stiff lower back most of the winter but, either way, seeing Santana pitch another game in Mets' orange and blue looks pretty slim.

"If this diagnosis proves to be correct, I think in all likelihood Johan will be lost to the Mets for the season," Alderson said.

Mets interested in signing Brian Wilson: Report

While the New York Yankees are looking to shave their payroll, it looks like the cross-city Mets might be looking to add a little beard to their roster.  Make that a lot of a lot of facial hair.

According to CBSSports.com, the Mets are interested in signing shaggy free agent closer Brian Wilson.  Mets general manager Sandy Alderson watched the former San Francisco Giants reliever in a private workout Saturday, as tweeted by USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale:

The New York #Mets are showing strong interest in former #SFGiants closer Brian Wilson. GM Sandy Alderson watched him Sat in private workout
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 13, 2013

The 30-year-old Wilson had Tommy John surgery in April and missed all but two games of the Giants World Series championship season.  He is reportedly on track to be ready for Opening Day.

"I'm going to me," he told reporters.

Wilson has 171 saves for the Giants and was once known as one of the most dominant closers in the major leagues.

Frank Francisco had 23 saves for the lowly Mets as the team's closer last season.  The only thing bigger than his 5.53 ERA was his weight.  He is still under contract with the team but could become Wilson's set-up man if the Mets end up signing the hirsute closer.

The report says six to eight teams have shown interest for the services of Wilson.  He is still deciding whether or not he wants to close for a non-contender or become a set-up man for a team with playoff potential.

Right now, the Mets chances of making the playoffs seem razor thin — so closer it would be.