PORT ST. LUCIE — The opinion of several personnel around the Mets: It’s about time Jose Iglesias found a job.
The 2024 sparkplug, a .337 hitter and “OMG” singer, agreed to a minor league pact with a camp invite with the Padres, with whom he figures to have a strong chance at cracking the roster.
“That’s a guy who can help any team win,” Pete Alonso said before a 5-1 loss to the Astros at Clover Park.. “Whether it’s defensively, offensively, he’s a great player, great guy in the clubhouse. Any team is lucky to get him.”
The Mets had split up with their fan favorite in large part because they more valued roster flexibility.
If Iglesias were brought back, they would have had a firm roster of position players without anyone to option to the minor leagues.
Such an arrangement would block spots for the likes of Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña, whom the Mets want to see in the majors if they prove they have conquered Triple-A pitching.
They resisted a player who would not have cost much financially, and apparently every other team also showed little interest in a 35-year-old coming off a magical season.
There are questions about whether Iglesias’ success is sustainable.
“Good for him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said about Iglesias’ signing. “Obviously he was a huge player for us last year, not only on the field but off the field. I’m glad he finally found home.”
The Mets will miss Iglesias’ production but also his production value.
They lost an anthem and a crooner.
“With the ‘Oh My God’ stuff, him being the Latino pop star sensation, I think people are going to miss that,” Alonso said. “But again, last year was last year, and we got to create our own vibes again this year.
“Other people are going to have to fill the Latino pop star void,” Alonso added with a laugh.
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