PORT ST. LUCIE — The opinion of a number of personnel across the Mets: It’s about time Jose Iglesias discovered 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 powerful likelihood at cracking the roster.
“That’s a guy who can help any team win,” Pete Alonso stated earlier than 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 break up up with their fan favourite largely as a result of they extra valued roster flexibility.
If Iglesias have been introduced again, they’d have had a agency roster of place gamers with out anybody to choice to the minor leagues.
Such an association would block spots for the likes of Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña, whom the Mets need to see within the majors in the event that they show they’ve conquered Triple-A pitching.
They resisted a participant who wouldn’t have value a lot financially, and apparently each different workforce additionally confirmed little curiosity in a 35-year-old coming off a magical season.
There are questions on whether or not Iglesias’ success is sustainable.
“Good for him,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated 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’ manufacturing but additionally his manufacturing worth.
They misplaced 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 stated. “However once more, final yr was final yr, and we obtained to create our personal vibes once more this yr.
“Other people are going to have to fill the Latino pop star void,” Alonso added with fun.
