1 smaller Mets roster move to make before they sign Juan Soto

The Juan Soto sweepstakes will dominate the headlines throughout the offseason as one of the game's best young stars hits the market for the first time in his career. The New York Mets are set to go all-in for the 26-year-old outfielder, but in recent times, free agency’s biggest fish are often the last ones in the pond.

So, while the blue and orange wait for Soto to decide on his future, other moves must be made first, including bringing back baseball’s favorite Latin pop star.

The Mets need to bring back Jose Iglesias and don't need to wait on Juan Soto to make it happen

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns took many fliers on players last offseason. While some worked out better than others, none had a bigger impact on the 2024 campaign than Jose Iglesias.

The former all-star shortstop had been out of the major leagues since 2022, when the blue and orange inked him to a minor league deal. Iglesias impressed in spring training but narrowly missed the opening-day roster. However, after hitting the cover off the ball in the minor leagues, the 34-year-old returned to the show, impacting in more ways than one.

The Cuban native’s hot bat became a fixture in the Mets lineup as he eventually overtook Jeff McNeil as the club's everyday second baseman, finishing the regular season with a .337/.381/,448 slash line across 85 games with four home runs and 26 RBIs while playing stellar defense.

Perhaps Iglesias’s biggest contribution was off the field as his song “OMG” became the anthem for the blue and orange as they went from 11 games under .500 in May to game six of the National League Championship Series. 

The 34-year-old is now a free agent and a reunion makes too much sense. Iglesias was a fan favorite and brought not only defensive versatility and a solid bat but also positive energy to the clubhouse. 

With Jeff McNeil trade speculations and Ronny Mauricio uncertainty, re-signing Iglesias on a one-year deal is something that needs to happen before the blue and orange tie their running shoes and go on their chase Soto.