The San Diego Padres have signed INF Jose Iglesias to a minor league contract. Iglesias, 35, spent the majority of his 2023 season in the Padres’ system, slashing .317/.356/.537 across 28 games with the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Iglesias then signed with the Mets for 2024, where, in 85 games, he batted .337/.381/.448 with four HRs and 26 RBIs.
Iglesias also became a bit of a cult hero for the Mets thanks to his hit song “OMG” becoming the team’s anthem, a surprisingly excellent bat and a 22-game hitting streak from Sept. 6-30. #JoseIglesias #SanDiegoPadres #NewYorkMets
The San Diego Padres had a 93-69 record last season and were the No. 4 seed in the National League. San Diego swept the Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves.
In the NLDS, the Padres once led the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 2-1 margin but ultimately fell, 3-2.
The Padres are looking to get back to the playoffs this season and potentially make a run at a World Series title, which would be the first in franchise history.
San Diego Padres Reportedly Agree to a Minor-League Deal With Jose Iglesias
Last season, Jose Iglesias played with the New York Mets. He was still a free agent on the open market. The announcement came via the official MLB X account:
Padres, INF Jose Iglesias reportedly agree to deal, per multiple reports including @MLBNetwork insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/UGU8LfzC47
— MLB (@MLB) March 5, 2025
Iglesias landing with the Padres equates to an interesting move.
The Friars already have a loaded infield. During the 2023 season, Iglesias was with San Diego’s organization in Triple-A with El Paso, but he never appeared in a major-league game that season.
He then played in 85 games with the Mets a season ago, hitting .337 with four home runs and 26 RBIs, along with six stolen bases in eight attempts.
Iglesias also had a stellar .381 on-base percentage. He played a significant role for New York last season before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Many people will remember him for the song “OMG” he created last season when playing for the Mets.
The projected starting infielder for the Padres this season will be Luis Arraez at first base, Jake Cronenworth at second base, Manny Machado at third base, and Xander Bogaerts at shortstop.
Some MLB fans had plenty to say about the signing on X.
One fan said, “Where does Iglesias fit in the lineup? Seems like a crowded infield unless someone gets moved.”
Another one added, “The Mets couldn’t sign him to a minor-league deal?”
That’s likely a common initial reaction, considering it’s surprising the Mets did not want to bring him back despite how productive he was in the Big Apple.
A third MLB fan chimed in with a similar sentiment: “That’s a really nice add for the Padres this late in the spring. Mets are going to miss his bat.”
