Andy McCullough of NJ.com believes that, Rule V draft pick, Brad Emaus is now the front runner to win the starting job for opening day.

2011 starting 2nd baseman? (Michael G. Barron)

Yet effort alone could not save Castillo, once his speed evaporated and a malignant perception enveloped him. The Mets see potential in Emaus, a 24-year-old Rule 5 pick from Toronto who has emerged as the favorite to play second base on Opening Day in less than two weeks.

While the piece in particular appears to be pure speculation the buzz surrounding the Mets second base job is moving away from Luis Hernandez and back to Emaus.  In the article McCullough points out all the things I have been saying about why Emaus will win the job come April.

The other candidates are not very well suited to win the job each having a bigger glaring hole than Emaus. Daniel Murphy has his defense, Justin Turner has options, and Hernandez just isn’t very good at anything except defense.  Then there is the most overlooked factor in my opinion that Emaus is the atypical “moneyball” player which is everything Sandy Alderson preaches.

The smartest baseball and business decision would be to use Emaus because if Emaus is not used he will have to be returned to the Blue Jays as part of the rules for the Rule V draft. Hernandez will all but surely clear waivers so if Emaus wins the job the Mets will have Emaus and Murphy on the big league club with Hernandez and Turner in the minors in case those two struggle, however, if Emaus is returned there will only be one option left down in the minors.  Depth is something that can not be overlooked in the MLB.

Adam Rubin also predicted Emaus to win the starting second base job.