NY Mets News: Jose Iglesias, bullpen opening, Pete Alonso free agency

We start with a public service announcement: the New York Mets will be playing regular-season baseball in three weeks. A transaction-filled offseason and early Spring Training start that brought an unprecedented level of hype to Clover Park, Mets fans, there is a lot to be excited about as we near Opening Day.

The Mets are rounding out their 26-man roster, tabbing obvious locks while evaluating the performance of several underlying players that will dictate who will seize the final open spots. While the offseason may be winding down, the final sprint to the regular season will only heat up.

Why the Mets may be better off without Jose Iglesias

Since the start of Steve Cohen’s ownership tenure, the mantra has been that rash decisions don’t often correlate to successful business results. At first glance, Cohen could have been referencing the monumental, large-sum investment signings, throwing their hat into the ring for every blockbuster free agent available.

But the other side of that coin: perhaps making moves based on emotional attachment or recency bias. For the most part, Cohen and David Stearns have obliged the overwhelming demands to bring back members of the 2024 Mets… except for Jose Iglesias, who signed a Minor League deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

Understandably so, fans voiced their displeasures (after all, as SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen eloquently said, the 2024 Mets went from “0-5 to OMG.”). But resigning Candelita, who sources say was seeking a multi-year deal, would have blocked youngsters like Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty, and even Jett Williams from becoming key contributors, possibly dampening their Major League potential.

Plus, it’s fair to say that based on the 2024 slash line for Iglesias (.337/.381/.448), the sure-handed infielder vastly outperformed his career metrics (.283/.323/.386) across over half of last year’s contests. Perhaps that explains why front offices were hesitant about giving the 12-year veteran a big-league deal.

A new opening in the Mets bullpen

After four years with the Amazins, the Mets decided to temporarily move on from reliever Sean Reid-Foley, placing him on outright waivers Tuesday afternoon. One of the players acquired in the deal for starting pitcher Steven Matz, Reid-Foley’s time with the Mets has been defined by several stints on the injured list, including undergoing Tommy John surgery that ended his 2022 campaign. Last year, the reliever appeared in 23 contests, the most in any season across his seven-year career.

While it doesn’t necessarily mean his orange-and-blue tenure has wrapped up, it does point to signs that the Mets are evaluating other bullpen pieces. As it stands, the contingent of relievers and closers is mostly rounded out, opening the door for names such as Huascar Brazoban, Kevin Herget, Tyler Zuber, Genesis Cabrera, and others. If Carlos Mendoza were playing matchups, and depending on whether A.J. Minter is good to go for Opening Day, the Mets may be inclined to add a southpaw to join Danny Young.

Pete to Philadelphia?

In a recent chat with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper stirred a little chatter about his willingness to cede first base, opening the door for the Mets’ division nemesis to sign Pete Alonso.

After all, the two have shared the same spotlight in Home Run derbies, becoming faces of their respective franchises and the National League East, and even sharing the same agent, Scott Boras.

While we can be thankful the dooming fantasy didn’t become a reality, it does make you wonder about the fallout and the ruckus reception Alonso would have gotten in his return to Citi Field. Do you applaud Alonso’s accolades and achievements with the Amazins, or does everything go out of the window?