Mets sign infielder Emaus to Minors deal

NEW YORK -- The Mets have signed infielder Brad Emaus, their starting second baseman to begin last season, to a Minor League deal.

Reporting to camp last year as a Rule-5 Draft pick from the Blue Jays, Emaus won the second-base job over a group of competitors, including Daniel Murphy, Justin Turner and others. But after Emaus hit just .162 over his first 14 games, the Mets returned him to the Blue Jays, who later shipped him to the Rockies.

Emaus, 26, had signed on with the independent Laredo Lemurs before rejoining the Mets. He will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

The Mets have also signed outfielder Fred Lewis, 31, to a Minor League contract and assigned him to Buffalo. Lewis hit .230 in 81 games for the Reds last season.