He still seems to be feeling the sting of being passed over by the New York Mets during the offseason.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Padres’ series finale against the Yankees, the San Diego infielder revealed he never received a free-agent offer from the Mets—something he found “totally shocking.” “That was a goal, to receive something and come back home,” he told Newsday.
Now, it sounds like he’s using that snub as motivation.
“I had a dream that I hit a walk-off against the Mets,” Iglesias said. “It was a blooper over their first baseman… and then we advanced to the World Series.”
Iglesias remained unsigned until March, eventually landing a one-year, $3 million deal with San Diego. By then, the Mets had brought in Nick Madrigal—who has since been lost for the season—and prioritized flexibility for prospects like Luisangel Acuña and Brett Baty.
It’s clear that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is sticking to his long-term plan, regardless of any emotional ties Iglesias may have inspired with his strong play last year.
After being called up from Triple-A on May 31, Iglesias played a key role in turning the Mets’ season around — and it wasn’t just because fans embraced his walk-up song “OMG” and upbeat attitude. He delivered clutch hits, solidified second base with a .337 average and .708 OPS during the regular season, and was instrumental in the team’s run to the NLCS.
This season, though, he’s hitting just .225 with a .551 OPS in 98 plate appearances. OMG — did Stearns make the right call by letting him go?
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