The Mets signed Nick Madrigal to a split contract yesterday, seemingly addressing the team’s desire to add an experienced utility infielder alongside the younger in-house infield options. The signing led to fresh questions about the status of last year’s veteran infield hand in Jose Iglesias, who remains unsigned in the wake of a magical season on and off the field in Queens.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote yesterday that “the Mets haven’t yet strongly pursued” Iglesias to this point in the offseason. The Post’s Mike Puma added a bit more context to the situation, noting that the Mets may see Iglesias as slightly redundant within the team’s crowded infield depth chart, even though “Iglesias hasn’t been ruled out” for a return.
Iglesias signed a minor league contract with New York last offseason, and that contract was selected to the active roster on May 31, when the Mets also optioned Brett Baty down to Triple-A amidst a flurry of other roster moves. Known more for his glove than his bat over his long career, Iglesias improbably delivered the best offensive performance of his 12 MLB seasons, hitting .337/.381/.448 with four homers (for a 137 wRC+) over 291 plate appearances. His arrival on the roster almost exactly coincided with the Mets’ turnaround, as the team had a 23-33 record before Iglesias’ contract was selected and then a 66-40 record afterwards. If that wasn’t enough, Iglesias even recorded the pop song “OMG,” which became the Mets’ anthem and unofficial rallying cry for the 2024 season.
Despite all this success and Iglesias’ role as a clubhouse leader and fan favorite, it is understandable why the Mets haven’t been proactive in re-signing the 35-year-old. Iglesias’ offensive showing was heavily powered by a .382 BABIP, as he didn’t walk much or make hard contact. To Iglesias’ credit, his sprint speed helped him turn some of those grounders into base hits, and he kept a lot of balls in play by rarely striking out.
Still, it is safe to assume that the Mets might view Iglesias’ 2024 numbers as something of a fluke, so moving to the roster flexibility offered by Madrigal’s split contract could be the team’s preferred tactic. As Puma noted, New York might ideally prefer that any of its veteran infield options remain purely as depth, lest they block any playing time for Baty, Luisangel Acuna, Ronny Mauricio or others.
Probably a better signing than Alonso.
Really hope Mauricio is healthy enough for first look at that 3b job this year over the field.
I think Luisangel Acuna might be ready. Mauricio is still doing rehab.
I think both Acuña and Mauricio are overrated. As a Mets fan, I don’t expect much from either of them and would love it if they traded them (one or the other or both, though Mauricio would need to prove he’s healthy first). No plate discipline for either of them and in the majors, that kind of free swinging approach gets exposed pretty quickly unless you have elite bat skills, which I don’t think either of them have.
Mauricio’s career experience at 3B has been 17 winter league games, 5 major league games and 2 minor league games…….and he missed all of last year to injury.
Minor league career OPS of .754, brief stint in the majors of 101 abs yielded a slash of 248/296/347.
Nothing is telling me that Ronny Mauricio is ready to be a starting 3B at the major league level.
Sunday Lasagna
With Lasagna at the plate, you always get a layered analysis
I don’t think you do what he did in Syracuse on accident. It’s his fault he got hurt and I don’t think you can fault him for that on Covid season. but Baty can’t hit and I think Acuna is still a year away himself. Jett is more 2b himself anyways.
If arrenados price is low enough and the Mets miss out on Alonso/Bergman I don’t think arrenados a bad fall back or giving the keys to the guy that has all the bells and whistles attached to his name today.
That contract with the luxury tax added on isn’t worth it.
Mets are already over the last luxury tax threshold. Any signing from here on out you’re basically paying double(110%tax). You’re not going to justify any more signings. Alonso = $60m/.
I feel if Ronnie didn’t get hurt he would be our 1B this year and Pete would be history
Mookie
That would be crazy because Vientos is pretty challenged defensively at 3B. If Alonso does not return, Vientos will play 1B. Baty is just not that good. I would give Acuna 70-80 games at 3B and have Mauricio taking reps at 3B in the minors. The odds of both Acuna and Mauricio hitting well at MLB level is not that high. I think Acuna has a long career as a useful utility player who can get 30+ stolen bases. Imagine Jon Berti with a lower average and more pop.
I get why the Mets would move on but Jose solidified his status as an all-time Mets fan fave (Like Big Sexy) and not just for OMG! But for timely hits and his quick hands and artistry with the glove. 2024 was so much fun.
And how hard he played. He beat out so many hits that others would not have because he ran hard as soon as he made contact.
I’ve said in other posts but Iglasias is the most underappreciated player in the sport. What he did for the Mets, he did for other clubs like Boston I September of 22. He’s not costly and yet he can’t get an MLB contract. It makes no sense. I’d sign him immediately for the last infield roster spot of just about any club.
Yep I agree with you. Makes you wonder what else is happening with this one to not catch any breaks. Seems he has certainly earned a spot.
Feel free to let Mets know. Then we can get Alonso
99 miles from Los Angeles
I have been thinking similarly. He is a better option than Kiki. Wouldn’t surprise me at all, especially if they don’t acquire a different third baseman!
Spud
Sorry, 99 miles from LA is an Iglesias song.
NYM have 3 young infielders. 4 if you count Jett Williams. At some point you’d expect a trade
Jett is going to have to hit better than .230 in the minors to be considered a hot prospect. I’m afraid he’s been over-valued.
Where are you pulling these numbers from? He was hurt last year playing all of 33 games and ended on a .364 avg in his AAA stint. 2023 he hit .263 for the year. He walks almost as much as he k’s and has good pop for his size. He reminds me a lot of Altuve, you definitely just looked at his numbers on BR and formed that opinion on the spot.
Jett’s walks appear to be more a product of passivity than elite plate discipline (though he has shown good swing decisions), and there are legitimate questions about whether he has enough pop to make his all-or-nothing approach work, especially at Citi, which tends to suppress exit velo and distance. If he’s going to swing for the fences, he has to clear them at a reasonable rate, otherwise he needs to work on making more contact. Not saying he can’t, just that it’s still an open question since he hasn’t shown it yet, and was hampered by injuries last year.
He sprays the ball around enough where if he can get 10-15 HRs a year he will be a very useful player. His lone full season in the minors he had 43XBH in 410 PA at age 19. We need to see another full year to get a better picture but I’m cautiously optimistic about him. His average exit velo is almost identical to the average for all MLB players.
The problem is that Jett’s approach is very three true outcomes-geared, so his top end velo is what matters more, and it’s borderline. He either needs to get to more power, or focus on improving his hit tool, so that he doesn’t end up being a low slug, low average guy who walks a lot, but otherwise doesn’t provide much offensive value. We’ll see what happens with a healthy season. Personally, I think he’s better off trying to improve his hit tool, but if his current approach proves successful, then more power to him (puns!).
@lapmando,
Williams is a Top 100 prospect across the prospect ratings lists despite a largely missed and diminished season in 2024 due to wrist injury that eventually required surgery.
He’s a dynamo with plus, plus speed, quick bat, 15-20 homer power and great eye in addition to solid up the middle defense and great mental make-up.
re-signing him would have been my 1st move if I was GM
Thank God you are not GM says all of Mets fandom.
Ryan: One of many reasons Stearns is in charge of baseball ops and you, you know, are not.
Someone… anyone… please sign or or trade something. I don’t care if it’s good for the teams involved or not. Just give us something and start spring training already.
Any other hobbies? Friends? Call em up.
Pete signing is holding up all the trades and final moves. I’d expect to see Pete sign then a trade for a SP involving a middle INF followed by Candelita being re- signed
Jose is going to be a good signing for someone.
Yup!
Not sure why the Yankees don’t sign him! He is better than Soto’s one dimensional play.
@pand
You’re comparing Soto to Iglesias bro?
Obviously a joke but Soto is not worth what the Mets gave him plus a a suite, premium seats and his own security. If I was on the Mets I would not be happy and now they are getting cheap with Alonso and Iglesias! Coven is a joke!
Cohen had a higher payroll last year without Soto how does this make him cheap? Also everyone on this site seems to forget Stearns is running the show, call him cheap if you want but throwing extra money to players when there is no need too is foolish. Alonso is clearly not worth overpaying or somebody would have done it by now.
“Cheap with Alonso”…How is offering Pete Alonso a market rate deal being “cheap with Alonso”. It’s more like not wanting to pay some fantasy number concocted only in the mind of the mercurial, ego driven, self centered agent Scott Boras.
Players like Pete Alonso are under tremendous union pressure to take the largest deal and it’s evident by his lack of signing elsewhere that the Mets have exceeded or tied all his other offers. Paying only what the market dictates and will bear is an excellent strategy to manage a team or any other business.
Not sure you realize that signing Alonso adds a tax penalty that’s puts his annual comp over $40M per. He’s not worth going into the stratosphere. Besides, Vladdy is on their radar next year and I’m sure that’ll happen.
“plus a a suite, premium seats and his own security.”
As a fan, I have no idea why you would care about this. It’s not your money and doesn’t count towards CBT dollars. Cohen can give Soto’s entire lineage unlimited free hot dogs for life and it still shouldn’t be something that you care about. Either weak trolling or you need to maybe tamp down your fandom below obsession-levels.
@pando8888,
The players are rather happy with the Cohen vision for the franchise both short and long term and their commitment to winning. Players are happy with the evolving winning culture, top down and bottom up, the support they get at every turn as players, people and resources the team invests in them. They love the open communication.
David Stearns has track record of success, postseason. Next step is championship. I strongly doubt the players “If I was on the Mets I would not be happy.” Players love being Mets, and BTW, both Cohen and Stearns are also Mets fans since their childhoods. Their love for the Mets is deep and ingrained for life.
You’re hard pressed to find any player who isn’t happy with Stearns and Cohen’s plans or thinks this is bad offseason.. And Alonso is the roadblock to his own return, not the Mets..
@MLB Fan,
Alonso put that pressure on himself as one of the open voices about pushing salaries to record breaking levels. His big mouth has contributed to an embarrassing situation of his own doing.
@LongTimeFan I agree I’d also argue you’d be hard pressed to find any non casual Mets fan that isn’t happy with the direction of the team also. We all remember how it was under the Wilpons, the season now and the future are better then anything the Wilpons have done the last 2+ decades.
how do you know what players think of the teams direction?
“Why you would care about this”…Each fan decides what he or she “cares” about, not you.
Fandom is mostly emotional not rational and apparently you too “care about this”(on the opposite side of the fence), otherwise you wouldn’t have mentioned “caring” to the other gentleman.
@reyday
how much of that payroll was dead money left over from the prior year with mccan verlander scherzer etc etc .that was before him
@mlb fan: Thanks for the pedantic response. Wow, fandom is emotional? Knock me over with a feather! I’m still going to maintain that caring about the perks that a player’s family receives is silly and obsessive (especially if they’re knocking the kind of security detail a non-baseball playing *family* receives) because it has literally nothing to do with baseball and it involves wives and children, but you can defend that all you want. It’s bizarre to most people but it’s cool that you think it’s ok.
@KnicksFan,
The players themselves say it, and you’ll be hard pressed to find free agent players from last season’s second half who don’t want to return. Some, such as Manea, Winker, Stanek have. Iglesias, JD Martinez.would like to. Players publicly talk about how well the Mets treat them as players and people, how well they treat their families.
Nimmo is lifelong Met. Lindor will retire as Mets and wear Mets cap in the Hall. Alvarez wants to sign extension. Vientos grew up a Mets fan.
Iglesias should be an easy sign at 2/$16M. I do wonder if his agent(S.Boras) is asking too much $ or too many years?
This guy has totally earned a 2 year contract but I could see teams’ hesitance to go longer in years.
All that said, a mid tier player signing with Scott Boras is often a HUGE mistake, since Scott Boras mostly does his best work for the guys who were going to get HUGE contracts regardless of representation.
A less mercurial and ego driven agent would’ve likely already had Iglesias signed to a good and fair contract by now.
@mlb
I don’t think that’s fair. Boras had other agents under him. This is literally the first mention of Iglesias all winter which begs the question of, why haven’t other teams been mentioned as ingested in him being how thin the 2b/SS/3B market has been since Adames, Torres and others have been off the board.
@KnicksFan,
Perhaps Iglesias has been waiting, hoping the Mets re-sign him.
Lol, yeah 2-$16 would be an easy sign. You’re around a decimal point over.
$8M per for two years? I think not. We could probably get him on a minor league deal.
@padam?
Minor league deal after the season he had? No.
Why would the Mets not re-sign the NL MVP?
Lol I love that troll by Castellanos. I wish there was more bitterness better division rivals, not into the friendly huggy brotherhood crap.
Ugh, no thanks. Maybe pre-social media that was fine, but now it’s just fuel for more loud, angry dumbness, and we have enough of that as it is. (I know, I know, I’m a low-T weak beta something wokeness blah blah DEI. And proud of it.)
@Idli,
Idli Amin – or is it Idi? Either way I haven’t heard that name in long time but I remember his rule as evil dictator. Idi Amin Da Da.
I don’t know why the Pirates did not choose this guy as a stopgap shortstop for one year.IKF is more like a utility man than a starting shortstop.
Because they have Cruz…?
Cruz is not the full time CF
I would sign Iglesias over Kike Hernandez, solely because Kike is only good with the Dodgers.
“Good with the Dodgers”..It does seem that Kike is “only good with the Dodgers”, but I guess everyone looks better with more talent around them. I would sign Iglesias to a 2/$16M in a heartbeat but I would have ZERO interest in Kike Hernandez.
His best season by a pretty significant margin was with the Red Sox.
“Best season”….That “season” was so good that the Sox dumped him soon after.
“Best season”….That “season” was so good that the Sox dumped him soon after.
It’s still literally his best season. I have no idea what you’re trying to prove here. @Acoss1331 said Hernandez is “only good with the Dodgers” and I correctly pointed out that he had his best season (again, by a significant margin) on a team other than the Dodgers. So… he’s wrong. The Red Sox trading him a year and a half later (“soon after”? again, wrong) doesn’t change that. Not sure why you’re on such an argumentative kick in this thread.
Iggy has always had this knack for getting hits through the IF. When he first came up in BOS and even when he was shipped out, the knock on him was it was flukes and not sustainable.
He’s quietly done his thing, played a decent glove, and keeps eking out those hits.
I’ve always liked him as a clubhouse guy who plays the game right, not a drama queen, so on so forth and glad he’s scratched out the career he has
You are correct, for Jose Iglesias plays the game with effort, the way it is supposed to be played.
Finally!!! Something on Iglesias. This is the only guy the Yanks should be targeting at this point. His defense is strong. He’s got great versatility defensively. He lacks power and didn’t walk but he’s got great bat to ball skills and he’s been a great being average guy the last 3 years. Assuming he’s not going to be more $5 mil is gladly eat the lux tax for him on a 1 year deal.
I’m not a gm, just a biased fan but they need to bring him back asap. Candelita and Alonso would be the cherry on top to this offseason despite their rotation being a huge question mark..unless they make a trade for a sp to clear up some infield space
Iglesias is an underrated player. He plays elite defense and plays with high baseball IQ. He’s a good situational hitter, and the rare major leaguer who actually knows how to lay down a bunt. Of course he’s not going to hit .337 again this year. But he’s a career .273 hitter, so it’s not like he hasn’t been a solid contact hitter his entire career.
Career .283, actually.
Off topic. Alonso is going to wind up with a Met 2 yr deal with opt out like the one the Mets offered to Teoscar earlier this off-season. Alonso 2 agents really misread his market.
“Misread his market”…Scott Boras didn’t necessarily “misread” Pete’s market. Boras thinks he SETS the market and teams will pay whatever number he pulls out of his backside.
Scott Boras is a 1 trick pony who still thinks it’s the 80’s & 90’s where teams paid BIG for 1 dimensional sluggers. He uses the same stale, childish tactics even though the market is ever changing and changes in negotiating tactics are warranted. When this is finally over and Pete has his 1 year opt out deal NONE of this will be because Scott Boras(again)misread the market.
All we’ll hear from Boras is blame shifting, excuses and claims of “not wanting to win” and “collusion” by the teams. There’s little worse than a lawyer(or doctor) who refuses accountability for his missteps. A more nuanced agent would’ve had Pete signed years ago.
Alonso’s previous agent was the one who really blew it. Eppler offered him 7/158 and that was turned down. Alonso is never going to get 6 years at 138 now.
Boras’ reputation and tactics have been solidly established for 2+ decades now. Veteran players keep hiring him for a reason. He consistently signs a significant portion of the richest contracts every year. Apparently the risk of his MO is worth it to several FA’s year over year. He’s the most successful MLB agent ever.
@mlb fan,
This is on Alonso who almost surely wants to set the record for first base AAV.
This has Ray Knight written all over it.
Red Sox should offer minor league deal & put him @ 2nd base.
If Iglesias ends up with a minor league deal Scott Boras should immediately be arrested, tried and then flogged.
Iglesias has spent most of his career on below market, minimum salary one and two million dollar deals.
2/$10M – 2/$16M should get his attention and get him signed. It’s criminal how his agent, Scott Boras, has not already done this.
Iggy has signed minor league pacts before. Notably 2019 (reds) and 2024 (mets) for sure. Not sure if there mightve been others.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see him sign one to get into ST and try to play his way into a role or boost interest if he doesn’t make the mlb club via a promotion clause giving him an opt out.
Braves should sign to push Arcia to bench
OMG
Iglesias would make a solid utility player for the A’s
what kind of message does it send to the mets players when management tries to lowball the heart and soul of the team ( Alonso) and then doesn’t bring back the guy who arguably was their most valuable player in the so called ” magical” run to the post season last year. All while they dish out 3/4 of a billion for a prima donna DH. Good grief
The Yankees ought to sign Iglesias to play 2nd base. His offense — even if tapers off a bit — is superior to the Dead Bat Society members currently on the NYY roster: LeMahieu, Peraza and Cabrera.
Plus, Iglesias showed tons of leadership that proved vital in the Mets march to the playoffs capped by a spot in the NLCS.