Diluted NY Mets duo prove fan-favorite truly was one-of-a-kind

Given how badly the New York Mets are struggling in 2026, fans could hardly be faulted for reminiscing on better days from the past. The team's most recent successes came back in 2024, when veteran and fan favorite Jose Iglesias helped to shock the team out of an early season malaise that allowed them to heat up over the summer and fight their way all the way to the NLCS before they fell just short of the World Series against the eventual champion Dodgers.

There's no doubt that the Mets front office, and perhaps even some fans, are dreaming of an unexpected savior emerging this season as happened back in 2024. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is a much less encouraging one. That's because the team has already tried calling upon multiple veteran leaders, and all it's done is highlight how rare it is for someone like Iglesias to swoop in and turn a team around.

On the positional side of things, the Mets turned to Tommy Pham to help fill out their struggling outfield mix a few weeks ago. It's not too difficult to understand why president of baseball operations David Stearns and the rest of the front office would have thought Pham could provide a jolt for the team. After all, he's a career .256/.344/.421 hitter with more than a decade in the majors under his belt who had enjoyed great success in a Mets uniform as recently as 2023.

That's not how Pham's 2026 Mets tenure played out, however, as he wound up failing to record even a single hit across nine games on the roster before he was recently DFA'd and replaced by Austin Slater. By contrast, Iglesias hit .400 through his first nine games and never went more than five appearances without a hit throughout the entirety of his 2024 tenure. While Pham might have offered a veteran edge in the clubhouse had he stuck around, the on-field production clearly wasn't there.

If the team's attempt at replicating the magic of Iglesias's run in 2024 didn't work out on the bench, then perhaps their efforts in the bullpen will work out better. Another veteran who's been brought in to contribute to the team on a minor league deal is right-hander Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel will one day have an argument for Hall of Fame consideration as a reliever, but his last truly dominant season as a closer came all the way back in 2021.

Flash forward to today, and Kimbrel is more of a journeyman in the twilight of his career. Four runs allowed in his first six appearances isn't exactly encouraging, but his strong peripherals (including a 1.63 FIP and a 33.3% strikeout rate) are interesting enough that he's managed to stay on the roster and could even find himself in the conversation for a larger role if closer Devin Williams continues to struggle. Even if that happens, however, it will be hard for Kimbrel to match the impact of Igleisas.

Even if the Mets can't replicate their success with Iglesias, that doesn't mean they should stop trying

It must be acknowledged that Stearns and the Mets are unlikely to recreate the magic that the 2024 team enjoyed with Iglesias. The then-34-year-old infielder hit .337 with an .830 OPS across 85 regular season games with the Mets. That sort of success is hard to come by for almost any player, never mind a journeyman entering his mid-30's on a minor league deal.

With that being said, however, the Mets could still benefit from taking fliers on players like that in the long run. While Pham didn't work out, perhaps Slater or Kimbrel still could. An incredible showing during Spring Training made Mike Tauchman look like a slam-dunk success story before he was sidelined by meniscus surgery, and he could still provide value to the club once he returns to action.

Ultimately, the Mets are in dire straits right now. Even if the array of minor league veterans, waiver claims, and other fliers the team figures to turn to in the coming days and weeks aren't going to be able to match the heights Iglesias reached in 2024, they're still worth pursuing. As much as a surprise star would be a lifesaver for this team, even basic competence would be a step in the right direction. Perhaps those marginal upgrades could combine into something more meaningful over time.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow