The Padres and free agent infielder are reportedly in agreement on a minor league contract. The Boras Corporation client will earn a $3MM base salary if he makes the roster and can take home another $1MM via incentives. Thats a bit heavier base Cayden Primeau Jersey than the standard minor league pact, which seems reflective of Iglesias 2024 season and perhaps strong interest on non-guaranteed deals of this nature. Iglesias, 35, enjoyed a tremendous comeback season in 2024 after not appearing in the majors at all in 2023. (He spent a portion of that season with the Padres Triple-A affiliate.) Originally signed to a minor league deal by the Mets, Iglesias was summoned to the big leagues in late May as a scuffling Mets club shuffled up a roster that had produced a 24-33 record through the seasons first two months. The 12-year veteran went on to appear in 85 games and slash .337/.381/.448 in 291 turns at the plate. He also became a key figure in the Mets clubhouse and a fan favorite whose OMG song became an anthem for the Mets as they turned their season around and marched to an NLCS appearance that looked wildly improbable at the time of Iglesias call to the majors. Impre sive as Iglesias numbers were in 2024, the Mets havent been keen on bringing him back. Thats in part due to a largely inflexible roster; catcher and likely backup infielder are the only two projected position players on the Mets roster who can be optioned. Re-signing Iglesias wouldve effectively left the Mets with a static 13-player position core, as Alvarez isnt likely to be optioned at any point in the near future. That would leave the Mets playing with a short bench anytime a position player needed a couple days off with a minor injury or illne s. Furthermore, theres simply good reason to believe that Iglesias output was unsustainable. He benefited from a sky-high .382 average on balls in play that sat 72 points higher than his career mark entering the 2024 season. That surge in batted-ball results came despite Iglesias producing bottom-of-the-scale marks in terms of average exit velocity (85.8 mph), barrel rate (2.2%) and hard-hit rate (30.6%). The Mets and presumably, based on his eventual contract other clubs around the league clearly didnt expect him to replicate or even approximate his 2024 results. While some regre sion is to be expected, that shouldnt take away the entirety of what Iglesias did with the Mets. He continued to demonstrate superlative contact skills, fanning in only 12.4% of his plate appearances. Hes also retained plus sprint speed even as hes entered his mid-30s, clocking in at 28.6 ft/sec, per Statcast, and landing in the 83rd percentile of big leaguers as a result. Iglesias also played strong defense at both third base and second base, per Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. Hes not going to be the batting title contender that a cursory look at his 2024 line might suggest, but even a dip to his expected .314 weighted on-base average (via Statcast) would make him a useful utility infielder. That could well be Iglesias role with the Padres, but its po sible he emerges in a more significant capacity. San Diego presently expects to have at second base and at first base. If the Friars want to affordably bolster their infield defense, however, shifting Arraez to a DH role and moving Cronenworth back to first base could open second for Iglesias. Its also po sible that hes only in the mix for a bench spot, which would place him in something of an unofficial competition with infielders and . Rosario is out of minor league options one of the whereas Wade cant be sent down without his consent due to his status as a veteran with more than five years of MLB service. The Padres arent going to carry all three on the roster. Iglesias could beat out either player, given his ability to handle any infield spot other than first base. Rosario isnt yet arbitration-eligible and is thus earning roughly the league minimum. Wades $850K salary is barely north of the minimum. He has a $1MM club option, however, suggesting the Friars would prefer to keep him around. Iglesias is an Article XX(b) free agent meaning hes a free agent with more than six years of MLB service who finished the preceding season on a major league roster or injured list. The 2022-26 CBA stipulates that such free agents who sign minor league contracts have three uniform opt-out opportunities baked into the contract: the first being five days prior to Opening Day, the second on May 1 and the third on June 1. As such, if Iglesias is informed late in camp that the Padres dont plan to carry him on the Opening Day roster, he can trigger that out clause and explore opportunities with other clubs. Robert Murray of FanSided the agreement between Iglesias and the Padres. Jon Heyman of the New York Post it was a minor league deal and also on the terms of the contract. Alex Newhook Jersey