The Mets optioned Justin Turner to Triple-A today, thus ending — for now — the Justin Turner Lobby.

Paul DePodesta said something interesting in his Baseball Prospectus chat yesterday:

Our Opening Day roster is just that – a roster for Opening Day only. We can change it the next day and the day after and the day after. Though there’s a certain cache to the Opening Day roster, it’s really just one day in a long season. All that means is that the 2B job will probably continue to be a competition until somebody makes it their own, and I suspect somebody will.

Though I am still not convinced Brad Emaus is a better fit for the position than Turner, sending Turner down buys the Mets some time to determine if Emaus can be a long-term contributor to the team. It was the only way to keep both Emaus and Turner in the organization, so it is probably the most logical move.

If at some point it becomes clear that Emaus cannot handle the position — either offensively or defensively — the Mets can ship him back to the Blue Jays or find a spot for him on the bench and recall Turner. Going with Turner out of the gate would mean dispatching Emaus to Canada now.

If Emaus is going to start the bulk of games at second base, as most suspect, Daniel Murphy becomes the team’s primary left-handed bat off the bench. And that brings up a point I made to Matt Cerrone yesterday: Willie Harris becomes somewhat redundant on the roster.

Terry Collins has raved about Harris’ versatility, but Collins raves about practically everyone. It’s hard to envision a situation calling for a left-handed bat in which the team would choose Harris over Murphy (bunting?), and Scott Hairston gives the Mets a suitable fourth outfielder with plenty of experience (more than Harris) in center field. Harris can back up the infield positions too, but presumably the first call for all replacement-infielder needs will go to Chin-Lung Hu.

Most of the media has acted all spring as if Harris is a lock for the roster. Harris has an opt-out in his contract, so though he was signed to a Minor League deal he cannot be forced to accept an assignment to Buffalo. Internet legend Nick Evans, out of options, would have to pass through waivers to be sent to Triple-A.

If Carlos Beltran needs a week or two on the Disabled List to start the season, it buys the team some time to make a decision — the Mets could keep both Harris and Evans around, since presumably Hairston would be the stopgap in right field.

But if Beltran is ready to go by April 1, it seems to me (and I’ve said this before) like the team might be better served keeping Evans over Harris. Though Evans cannot boast quite the same defensive versatility or Major League resume as the veteran, he is seven years younger, locked up under team control for way longer and has more offensive upside.

I realize I’m once again quibbling over the 25th spot on the roster and that this season, it seems like the Mets’ front office might actually be thinking about these decisions more than I am. Perhaps they think Harris is the sparkplug that will catapult the Mets to contention, and Evans is doomed to a Hessmanian life of itinerant Triple-A mashing. But since neither is obvious, I’d rather see them go with the younger player and try to convince Harris to accept the Minor League assignment, knowing that he’ll likely get the first call when someone inevitably goes down with injury.