Pete Alonso isn't the only NY Mets free agent whose offseason Scott Boras could botch

Scott Boras’ reputation as a cutthroat agent is evolving. Yeah, he gets his A-list clients a lot of money. But in the second consecutive offseason, victims have seen their free agency punished by what appears to be too hard of bargains. Right now it’s New York Mets free agent Pete Alonso who seems to have received some of the worst advice from Boras.

Unsigned with spring training report days quickly approaching in less than a month, Alonso’s market was miscalculated by Boras. Few teams seemed to even take a sniff at signing the longtime Mets slugging first baseman. As of right now, a return to the Mets, a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, or maybe a late swing by the Los Angeles Angels seems to be his only options.

Boras botched Alonso’s free agency in some way, shape, or form. Is he doing the same with Jose Iglesias?

Where are the Jose Iglesias rumors this offseason?

After settling on a minor league deal last offseason, Iglesias stunned us all by hitting .337 for the Mets while captivating us all with his ability to hit in the clutch, play Gold Glove worthy defense, and entertain us with his music. The Mets had an anthem for 2024 sung by him. And yet there hasn’t been much of a peep about where he’ll sign this winter.

A 35-year-old journeyman infielder isn’t exactly at the top of everyone’s free agency wish list and yet Iglesias has been a consistent hitter throughout his career. He batted .292 in 2022 for the Colorado Rockies in an even larger sample size than what he got from the Mets last year. A lifetime .283/.323/.386 hitter who did a ton of damage versus lefties last year, one would think teams would open up room for such a beloved professional who proved he can change the locker room chemistry in the best ways possible.

So what’s the hold up? Has Boras twisted the arm of every suitor into giving Iglesias nothing but an outrageous contract? Or are teams just not buying into the hype?

Iglesias is still a match for the Mets as a candidate for the same role he had last year. If they aren’t bringing back Alonso or some other veteran at either corner infield position, he feels necessary.

Iglesias’ career hasn’t been rich in terms of dollars. A $6.275 million deal in 2018 with the Detroit Tigers is his highest single season salary. In 2022, the Rockies signed him for $5 million. Despite hitting well there, he spent 2023 with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres in the minor leagues, released twice by the latter. Only out of necessity did he manage to make his way back to the big leagues in 2024 and the Mets were rewarded for it beyond their wildest dreams.

This has been a relatively cheap offseason for owners. The Mets have spent. The Los Angeles Dodgers have as well, even if a lot of the cash isn’t leaving the vault for another decade.

Only four teams, the Mets, Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Arizona Diamondbacks have spent over $200 million in free agency. We can only add three more teams, the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers at over $100 million. Meanwhile, several teams haven’t spent a dime on free agents.

Iglesias is a worthy addition for multiple teams. Able to play second base, third base, and shortstop regularly, one would think there’d be a robust market. It might not be Boras’ fault alone and yet one can’t help but see how badly he assisted in botching Alonso’s free agency and not make the connection.