After just 42 plate appearances, the New York Mets decided to designate second baseman Brad Emaus for assignment. The Mets will now have to trade him or waive him, and as a Rule 5 pick, he will have to be offered back to the Toronto Blue Jays for $25,000 if he clears waivers.

Emaus had a rough start to the year, hitting like a pitcher and committing a brutal flub on a double play attempt that cost the Mets five runs.

To replace Emaus on the roster, the Mets recalled Justin Turner, a 26-year-old utility infielder who showed a little pop in AAA last year for the first time in his career. The Mets have been starting Daniel Murphy at second lately, and it would figure that he would have a leg up on the starting job.

The Mets were originally considering giving the second-base job to incumbent Luis Castillo in the spring, but they instead chose to eat a substantial amount of money to make sure Castillo didn't play for them.