Last year, the New York Mets made it clear that they weren’t looking to recapture the upbeat clubhouse vibe from their 2024 roster, and that strategy backfired.
A year after making a surprise run to the National League Championship Series as a wild-card team, the Mets imploded in the second half and missed out on the playoffs by one game at 83-79. They then proceeded to cut ties with the four longest-tenured players on the roster this offseason: Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.
But although the Mets believe themselves to be in good position to return to the postseason after some marquee additions in trades and free agency, one insider thinks this team could still use another free-agent signing. That’s because the player in question was a key member of that clubhouse culture in 2024.
On Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post urged the Mets to consider a reunion with Jose Iglesias, the 13-year veteran infielder who unexpectedly put up All-Star caliber stats in 85 games in New York during that 2024 season.
“The Mets, (San Diego) Padres, and (Boston) Red Sox should all consider Jose Iglesias, who remains at home in North Miami, ready and waiting for a call,” wrote Heyman.
Iglesias’ numbers fell off hard last season, as he went from a 136 OPS+ and 3.1 bWAR with the Mets to a 66 OPS+ and negative-0.7 bWAR with the Padres. The Cuban-born journeyman is entering his age-36 season.
Mets fans will remember Iglesias just as well for his alter ego, pop sensation “Candelita”, and hit song “OMG,” as they will for his contributions on the field during that unexpected 2024 run. But with plenty of infield depth already, is there really any chance the Mets will allow Iglesias to have an encore?
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