Insider shares if Nick Madrigal injury will cause Mets to rethink Jose Iglesias stance

Even before Nick Madrigal of the New York Mets dislocated his left shoulder on Sunday, free-agent utility infielder Jose Iglesias made it known he would happily run it back with the club after he became a fan favorite in 2024. 

However, it seems the Mets won't be in any rush to re-sign Iglesias before March begins. 

"In the immediate aftermath of the (Madrigal) injury, all indications are that the Mets will stick with their plan to emphasize internal depth and flexibility in filling out their bench," MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY reported on Sunday. "The Mets signed Madrigal to a split contract in January, meaning that his salary would be different playing at Triple-A compared to the big leagues. If the team re-signed fan-favorite Iglesias to a Major League deal, it would be locked into either carrying him on the roster or designating him for assignment. Iglesias cannot be optioned." 

Assuming Madrigal will be sidelined for some time, the favorites to win the Mets' utility infield job would seemingly be Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna. Baty lost the third-base job last year to 2024 breakout star Mark Vientos, while Acuna provided a spark for the Mets late last season and is just 22 years old. Iglesias turned 35 last month. 

Iglesias essentially was an afterthought within the Mets organization when he officially debuted for the big league club on May 31, 2024. While the Amazins ended that day at 24-33, Iglesias was a big reason New York enjoyed a summer turnaround that ended with the team completing a trip to the National League Championship Series. 

Over 85 regular-season games, Iglesias hit .337 with four home runs and 26 RBI. Of course, such numbers tell only part of the story about what he offered as a positive clubhouse presence for a team that seemed headed toward a second consecutive summer fire sale at the start of June. 

Specifically, Iglesias' "OMG" hit song became a rallying cry and celebration for a Mets side that surprised many by qualifying for the playoffs. Additionally, Iglesias has big league experience playing shortstop, which could be useful for a club that was without star Francisco Lindor for some crucial September games when he was dealing with a lingering back injury.

"Could the Mets pivot back to 'Candelita?' It’s never wise to say never in this game, but Madrigal’s injury did not significantly alter the dynamics already in place," Martino added. 

For now, it sounds like Mets fans hoping for an Iglesias-related reunion will remain disappointed for the foreseeable future.