The Blue Jays have reportedly signed Justin Turner to a one-year deal, taking a player off the board that seemed like an ideal fit for the Mets, who need a veteran bat to bolster their DH spot while providing time at third base, a position of question for New York heading into 2024.
Evan did not take the news well, as Turner was the veteran bat he wanted most among the likely candidates, which also includes J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler.
Now, Evan has reached the point where he is begging David Stearns to sign one of the steady veteran bats still available on the free agent market.
“I am about to go on my hands and knees, and I’m going to beg…and I’m gonna ask David Stearns a favor,” Evan said. “David Stearns, can you get me a stick? Just one stick. That’s all I need. One bat. One human being in this lineup that is a professional.
“This is no longer four months ago, where I’m begging for Ohtani or Yamamoto, or five or six new players. No, you’ve gotten Evan on Jan. 30 to just be a little, simple man. I’m just asking for a stick.”
Evan needs another bat in the lineup to protect Pete Alonso, and not rely on several youngsters to take the next step, or several veterans that slumped in 2024 (like Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte) to get the team back to the playoffs. So, whoever it is, Evan is begging Stearns to sign one of them.
“This morning, when the stick I wanted, Justin Turner, signed with the Blue Jays, a small part of me died,” Evan said. “I want a stick, so in two and a half weeks, when spring training starts, I can convince myself that the Mets have a shot.”