Insider Reveals What Jose Iglesias is Seeking in Free Agency

Could Jose Iglesias' asking price in free agency be why he's likely not returning to the New York Mets?

Sep 19, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias (11) celebrates after reaching first base on an infield single in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

When the New York Mets signed former Chicago Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal at the end of January, many assumed this meant that there was no longer any chance Jose Iglesias would be returning to Queens.

There's no way of knowing whether this sentiment is completely true until Iglesias puts pen to paper with some other team. However, it certainly doesn't look likely that he'll be a member of the Mets next season. This will be a tough blow, considering how crucial he was to the team's culture and camaraderie in 2024.

It sucks the Mets couldn’t find a way to bring back Jose Iglesias but we’ll always have OMG

He deserves to land somewhere & I think he will but he was never going to be as good as he was last season (virtually impossible because he was THAT good)

Always leave em wanting more pic.twitter.com/65Xq20agSB

— Kyle Gelling (@KyleGelling) January 31, 2025

But all good things must come to an end eventually. And during a February 4 episode of Mets Hot Stove, SNY MLB insider Andy Martino explained why the Mets might have decided to move on from Iglesias.

"The Madrigal thing... you could have brought back Jose Iglesias. He's looking for a multi-year deal, it would have been a lot more money," Martino said, per a February 4 X post from SNY.

"So although the payroll is already going to be at levels that Steve Cohen and David Stearns did not want, we're talking $330 million, $340 if they sign Alonso. They're just leaving a little room," he added.

On Mets Hot Stove, @martinonyc explains to @emacSNY where the Mets and Pete Alonso are at and explain the timeline of recent moves https://t.co/05H6Qj3fyB pic.twitter.com/STUaLS8dAa

— SNY (@SNYtv) February 5, 2025

Essentially, Martino is saying that the Mets signed Ryne Stanek and Nick Madrigal instead of pricier alternatives at those two positions (Iglesias, in Madrigal's case) so that there's enough money left over to spend on Alonso if that's the direction they decide to go.

While Iglesias not coming back to Queens next season would be a tough pill for Mets fans to swallow, getting Alonso instead will certainly help matters.