Mets leave door open for Mariners to sign undervalued infielder in free agency

The New York Mets have done more than enough to satisfy their fans this offseason, unlike the Seattle Mariners. They broke records to sign Juan Soto to a long-term deal and make him a Met for the rest of his career. They brought back fan favorites in Sean Manaea, Pete Alonso, and even Jesse Winker. They bolstered their rotation even more with Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas, both former members of their cross-town rivals.

Unfortunately, not every piece of their unexpected postseason run will be returning in 2025 — and perhaps it's time for the Mariners to capitalize.

Recent reports state that Jose Iglesias probably won't be coming back to Queens next year. One of the best individual storylines of the season, Iglesias revived his career after spending all of 2023 in Triple-A El Paso. In just under 300 major-league plate appearances in 2024, he slashed .337/.381/.448 and was an integral part of the team's second-half playoff push.

He was so beloved by Mets fans that he got the chance to perform his hit single, "OMG", at Citi Field after a 7-2 victory over the Astros in June.

Mariners Rumors: Should Seattle target Jose Iglesias in free agency?

Despite his contributions and the desire of Mets fans to see him return to the team, it's understandable that the Mets have chosen to move on. With Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos manning the left side of the infield and Jeff McNeil playing second base, there isn't really a full-time spot for Iglesias on the roster. There is however, a potential spot for him in Seattle.

The front office has received its fair share of criticism for its lack of activity this winter, particularly when it comes to strengthening the infield. This is primarily due to the organization's steadfast confidence in its current talent, especially at second base, but Iglesias could be an affordable way to upgrade.

The biggest thing he would bring to Seattle is his great bat-to-ball skills. He had a whiff rate of just 15.2% and a strikeout rate of 13.4% — numbers that would have placed him near the top of the league if he had accumulated enough plate appearances to qualify. The Mariners struggled immensely with strikeouts and putting balls in play, something having Iglesias in the lineup could rectify.

There hasn't been very much reported interest from other teams, likely due to uncertainty surrounding his ability to maintain last year's production after a career of league-average numbers. This should create a buyer's market for his services that would allow Seattle to push for a lower price should they pursue him as a free agent.

It would be a tight fit on the roster, but it seems like Seattle plans to make the most out of their breadth-over-depth approach to roster construction and move names around as necessary. Who knows, maybe he could end up having another great year and become the team's starting third baseman. After all, who was expecting him to do what he did in 2024?