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Alderson: Mets signed Tebow 'because this is an entertainment business'

Xavier Mascarenas/TCPalm / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sandy Alderson is finally shedding some light on the decision to bring former NFL star Tim Tebow into the New York Mets organization.

Despite fellow executives calling the Mets' signing of the ex-quarterback a joke at the time, Tebow has insisted throughout his young baseball career that his big-league pursuit was absolutely not a publicity stunt.

Apparently that sentiment hasn't been shared by Alderson, the Mets general manager, who admitted Friday that Tebow's draw power was a key factor in signing him to a minor-league deal.

"Look, we signed him because he is a good guy, partly because of his celebrity, partly because this is an entertainment business," Alderson said Friday during a SABR convention at Citi Field, according to Roger Rubin of Newsday. "My attitude is 'why not?'"

After inking his infamous deal with New York in 2016, Tebow struggled in his first stint in professional baseball, slashing just .194/.296/.242 in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League. For his first full season, however, the Mets elected to send Tebow to the Low-A Columbia Fireflies in the South Atlantic League where he fared slightly better, hitting .220/.311/.336 while splitting time in left field and at designated hitter.

Though his numbers were nothing spectacular, the Mets surprised everyone by promoting Tebow to the Florida State League's St. Lucie Mets in High-A, and Alderson admitted he hopes Tebow can again bring in droves of fans, much like he did in Columbia.

"I actually think it's been great for baseball." Alderson said, according to Rubin. "It's been unbelievable for the South Atlantic League in terms of interest and entertainment.

"We'll see how far he goes."

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