Sandy Alderson invited former player and current MLB Ambassador of Inclusion Billy Bean to Mets camp on Tuesday, where Bean shared his own personal stories about dealing with being an in-the-closet homosexual during his eight-year MLB career.
To listen to Bean’s talk with the media at Tradition Field on Tuesday, click here.
While he addressed all 30 major league general managers in November, it was Alderson and the Mets who were the first to 
approach Bean. While the Mets discussed the idea of having him suit up for them in a Spring Training game or two, Bean declined, and instead spent the day in uniform with the club and sharing his stories.
“We’re trying to reach out to people and we are there if they reach back,” Bean said regarding his presence at the team facilities.
“I disagree with his lifestyle,” Daniel Murphy told NJ.com’s Mike Vorkunov when asked about Bean, who announced his homosexuality in 1999. “I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual.”
Murphy went on to say that while he doesn’t agree with Bean’s “lifestyle,” that it does not change the way he would treat him. “That doesn’t mean I can’t still invest in him and get to know him. I don’t think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent.”
Update, March 4, 2:07 PM: Billy Bean has responded to Murphy’s comments, saying, “I appreciate that Daniel spoke his truth. I really do. I was visiting his team, and a reporter asked his opinion about me. He was brave to share his feelings, and it made me want to work harder and be a better example that someday might allow him to view things from my perspective, if only for just a moment.”
“I respect him,” Bean continued. “And I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it’s a start.”
To read more from Bean, including his thoughts on his visit with the Mets, check out MLB.com.
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