Free-agent veteran infielder Jose Iglesias and the San Diego Padres agreed to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports it's a minor-league deal with an invitation to camp. The 35-year-old will make $3 million if he's in the big leagues and will have incentives that can earn him an extra $1 million. The Cuban infielder joined the New York Mets late last season and impressed with a .337/.381/.448 slash line, four home runs, 26 RBI, six steals and 39 runs scored in 85 regular-season games while helping the team advance to the National League Championship Series. Fantasy managers should not expect Iglesias to hit that well again in San Diego, though, where he'll likely bounce around as a utility infielder for the Friars. Iglesias' biggest value to the Padres might be his locker-room presence.
According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Mets have offered a one-year contract to infielder Jose Iglesias. Ragazzo noted that nothing appears "close" for the time being. Earlier in the offseason, the Mets signed second baseman Nick Madrigal to operate in a depth role, but the team is still interested in reuniting with Iglesias. Last season, Iglesias enjoyed a career season with the Mets as he posted a .337/.381/.448 slash line with 16 doubles and six stolen bases. He hit four long balls and added a triple. He struggled to generate power but showed an elite eye at the plate with a stellar 13.4 percent strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Iglesias leading up to spring training. If he does return to Queens, he will likely serve as a depth option in the infield.
Cubs Expressing Interest In Jose Iglesias, Jorge Polanco
According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Chicago Cubs have been interested in acquiring another veteran infielder and have been linked to Jose Iglesias and Jorge Polanco. While the team agreed to a contract with infielder Jon Berti earlier this week, the team is still targeting another option as Nico Hoerner (elbow) could be in danger of missing Opening Day. Iglesias enjoyed a career season with the Mets at age 35, posting a .337/.381/.448 line. Polanco played through a knee injury last season but underwent surgery in October and is expected to be a full go for spring training. Across 118 contests with Seattle last summer, Polanco held an underwhelming .213/.296/.355 line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Hoerner's status during spring training as the Cubs may continue to target one of these options for a short-term solution.
Jose Iglesias Continues To Surprise With Two Homers
New York Mets infielder Jose Iglesias smacked two solo home runs in Friday night's narrow win at Citi Field against the visiting Colorado Rockies, notching his first career multi-homer game. After swatting a solo jack to left field to make it a 2-2 game in the second inning, Iglesias cracked his second bomb of the game off Rockies right-hander Peter Lambert to left-center field to extend New York's lead to 7-2 in the fifth frame. The 34-year-old former All-Star has been a serviceable addition during his surprising first season in Queens this year, hitting a torrid .347 (26-for-75) with three big flies, 16 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one stolen base covering 28 contests, and Iglesias is worth a look in NL-only fantasy leagues while he's running hot.
Francisco Alvarez, Jose Iglesias Resting Against Nationals
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and veteran infielder Jose Iglesias are getting breathers on Thursday in the series finale against the division-rival Washington Nationals. Luis Torrens is behind the plate and is batting sixth, while Jeff McNeil gets the start at the keystone and will hit ninth against Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Alvarez missed some time earlier this year due to injury, but he's back now and has some of the most upside among the young catchers in the game. The 22-year-old backstop is hitting .301/.373/.489 on the year with an .862 OPS, four homers and 23 RBI in 133 at-bats. Iglesias started in five of the team's previous six games and has surprisingly gone 24-for-71 (.338) with 14 RBI since joining the Mets. If he continues to swing a hot bat, he should see regular playing time at second base at the expense of the struggling McNeil. UPDATE: Iglesias is under the weather and needed an IV after cramping up after Wednesday's game.
New York Mets infielder Jose Iglesias had a productive night at the plate in a 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Iglesias went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and two RBI to help propel the Mets to the win. After not appearing in an MLB game since 2022, the veteran infielder is off to a fast start with the Mets, hitting .338 with one homer, 10 runs, 14 RBI, and a stolen base across 71 at-bats. He's worth a look as a reserve in deeper, NL-only leagues moving forward.
New York Mets middle infielder Jose Iglesias had a nice day at the plate in Monday's 8-7 win over the Nationals. Iglesias went 3-for-4 with three singles, an RBI, and a stolen base. The 34-year-old veteran was called up from Triple-A Syracuse last Friday and has gone 5-for-11 while playing at both second base and shortstop. Iglesias has been a useful fantasy player at times throughout his career and put together a respectable .273/.309/.442 slash line in 175 plate appearances with Syracuse before getting called up. Fantasy managers should wait to see his role more clearly defined before considering him, but he may be able to earn playing time if he continues to hit well, given the Mets' struggles.
Jose Iglesias, Luke Voit Won't Make Mets Opening Day Roster
The New York Mets have informed Jose Iglesias, Tomas Nido, and Luke Voit that they did not make the team's Opening Day roster. Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in February but failed to latch onto the team's main roster after hitting .097 with a home run and four RBI over 31 spring at-bats. Iglesias had a solid spring, but it wasn't enough to make the team's Opening Day roster. This spring, he hit .278 with a home run and three RBI over 36 at-bats. Both Voit and Iglesias will look to latch onto another team. Neither Iglesias nor Voit will provide much fantasy value even if they sign with another club ahead of 2024 fantasy drafts.
Free-agent infielder Jose Iglesias signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets on Tuesday. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Iglesias will provide infield depth, mainly at shortstop, for the Mets heading into next spring. The 33-year-old Cuban didn't surface in the big leagues at all in 2023 but did impress in 28 games for Triple-A El Paso in the San Diego Padres system with a .317/.356/.537 slash line, .892 OPS, four home runs and 27 RBI in 135 plate appearances. Iglesias was an All-Star for the Detroit Tigers in 2015, when he hit .300 with only two homers, 23 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 120 games. He's always been a glove-first player and has only 47 home runs in 11 major-league seasons.
San Diego Padres shortstop Jose Iglesias has exercised his opt-out clause in his contract and will look to play elsewhere. The 33-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Padres about a month ago. It appears he's ready to look for another organization after not being called up to the majors. He decided to opt-out of his deal with the Miami Marlins as well back in April. Iglesias should be able to find another team given his track record. He slashed .292/.328/,380 with three home runs and 47 RBI in 118 games with the Colorado Rockies last season.
Jose Iglesias
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