Of all the players on the 2024 Mets, the easiest throughline to cite when it comes to the team going from very bad to very good is Jose Iglesias.
Before Iglesias was called up from Triple-A Syracuse on May 31, the Mets were 23-33.
From the time Iglesias arrived (and played in his first game) through the end of the regular season, the Mets went 66-40 — the best record in baseball during that span.
No, Iglesias did not singlehandedly turn the Mets from a team destined for a losing season into a team that made a magical run to the NLCS.
But his arrival — after he fought doggedly to continue his MLB career after altering his approach at the plate — changed the vibe. Iglesias’ song and the OMG slogan that was borne from it became the Mets’ rallying cry, and his performance on both sides of the ball was incredibly important.
With Iglesias a free agent, should the Mets bring him back?
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET IGLESIAS GO
Iglesias hit .337/.381/.448 with an .830 OPS and 137 OPS+ in 291 plate appearances over 85 games in 2024 during what was his age-34 season. That is not going to happen again, and it’s easy to explain why it was a clear aberration.
For one, Iglesias’ career triple slash before 2024 — in 11 seasons with five different teams — was .279/.319/.382. He had some strong showings in small sample sizes with the Orioles in 2020 and Red Sox in 2021, but over a full season, his highest OPS+ was 101. And he was out of the league entirely in 2023.
Second, when looking at Iglesias’ advanced stats from 2024, you’ll see that while is xBA, whiff percentage, and strikeout rate were elite, he was near the bottom of the league in xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, chase rate, and walk rate.
Iglesias’ BABIP (batting average on balls in play) during the regular season was .382 — nearly 70 points above his career average.
And Iglesias started to get exposed in the postseason, when he hit just .227/.261/.227 in 46 plate appearances over 12 games, and was replaced as the regular second baseman by Jeff McNeil late in the NLCS.
The Mets also have a potentially crowded infield situation, especially if Pete Alonso is re-signed. In that scenario, there could be one starting spot available with a group of players fighting for it that includes McNeil, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio. That’s why the Mets shouldn’t be looking at Iglesias as a starting-level player.
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP IGLESIAS
While not someone who should be a starter on a contending team, Iglesias could be a perfect backup infielder for the Mets.
His defense is not quite what it was in his prime, when he was one of the best shortstops in baseball, but Iglesias is still solid to above average at shortstop, second base, and third base.
Overall, Iglesias was worth 2 OAA in 2024 — in the top quarter of the league.
His numbers via DRS weren’t as rosy, but were still strong enough, with Iglesias worth 4 DRS in 36 games at third base, 1 DRS in 61 games at second base, and -1 DRS in a tiny sample size of six games at shortstop — a position he will almost never play with the Mets as long as Francisco Lindor remains healthy.
And while the Mets’ infield could be crowded when it comes to who starts, they don’t have anyone on their 40-man roster who profiles as a backup infielder capable of playing shortstop, second base, and third base. Acuña and Mauricio could be options for that role later in their career, but if they’re on the team from the jump in 2025, it’s likely to be in a more regular role.
As is noted above, there are also the intangibles Iglesias brings, including his tremendous work ethic and infectious personality.
VERDICT
Iglesias should be back. And it makes too much sense for the Mets to not make it happen.
This should be doable on a one-year deal, with a solid raise coming from the $1.5 million Iglesias made in 2024.
