Veteran infielder José Iglesias has opted out of his minor league deal with the Padres, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). Assuming San Diego doesn’t add him to the MLB roster, he’ll return to free agency.
It’s familiar territory for Iglesias. He followed a similar path with the Marlins a few months ago, opting out after signing a minor league pact in Spring Training. He caught on with the Padres, triggered an opt-out a month later, then re-signed on a new minor league deal with San Diego.
Iglesias is still searching for his first MLB call of the year. He got to the highest level in 11 of the 12 seasons between 2011-22. Iglesias carved out a lengthy career as a regular thanks to excellent shortstop defense and a high-contact bat that allowed him to run strong batting averages. His public defensive marks have dropped over the past two seasons, though, contributing to his struggles to find an MLB look thus far in 2023.
To his credit, the 33-year-old had a nice offensive showing in Triple-A. He appeared in 28 games for San Diego’s highest affiliate in El Paso and hit .317/.356/.537 with four home runs over 135 trips to the plate. The power is probably inflated by the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League setting — Iglesias hit only three homers in 467 plate appearances for the Rockies last season — but he has continued to put the ball in play at a high rate. He went down on strikes in only 16.3% of his trips with El Paso.
Iglesias has played almost exclusively shortstop at the big league level, logging over 8000 career innings there. He spent most of his time there in Triple-A but logged a few starts at both second and third base as well. He’s no longer the defender he was at his peak, but he can cover any infield position and still hits for a high enough average he should at least find another minor league deal elsewhere.
Doing so in hopes of avoiding a ringworm outbreak.
Iglesias for the MLB minimum or Alydmes Diaz for 14.5 million? I think the hapless A’s may have made the wrong call on that one.
Dodgers?
Angels
Wouldn’t mind him at ss for the moment, since apparently they won’t bring up fletcher
Red Sox
Pablo Reyes has been playing an excellent shortstop for Boston lately. He’s even contributing with the bat at times (.297 batting average). While I’d love to see Jose back in Boston, they just don’t have a need for him as Trevor Story is getting closer to his return. Lopez & Kiké should be able to hold down the fort until Story is ready.
As much as I’d like to see him back I have to agree. HOWEVER I also have to say… they SHOULD have signed him 3 months ago… even a step or two slower than his prime would have been SOOO much better than Kike Hernandez at SS full time until we got lucky with Pablo Reyes. I get it… Mondesi was supposed to be healthy by now etc. but seriously… league minimum would’ve solidified the SS spot months ago and who knows maybe without that 2/3 week period of pathetic defense wouldn’t have happened and the Sox could’ve been a few games better off.
Jeff – Well said. And where is it being reported Story will return in July? I haven’t seen it.
Masslive had it as well as other outlets. Will DH in July and field in August
Thomar – Yeah I read the article you’re referring to. Dotty was talking about playing shortstop though, which Story acknowledged wouldn’t happen until August at the earliest.
SOOO much better than Kike Hernandez at SS full time
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Some of that is 20/20 hindsight. I actually wanted the RS to trade for DeJong, figuring a good glove would at least provide some stability, even if he is a weak hitter (and assuming StL ate some money).
TBH, now that DeJong has once again forgotten how to hit, he might still be a useful target. But like you said, we might’ve gotten lucky with Reyes.
Story is a LONG way from being healthy to play SS. There’s a lot of years and money left on his deal, or, at least enough so you need to think big picture.
Mondesi probably won’t play this year. And when your depth behind that is going back to Kiki, you should sign Iggy to be in AAA as depth. You’re one injury away from being back to having nothing.
If there’s money in boston to give a non-40 man slot to a burned out Atlantic league pitcher, there’s room for SS depth.
Perry should be on the phone with his agent….need all the help we can get
Jerry dipoto calling on line 2.
Anything is better than Wong at this point. 12 hits on the season, 3 in the past month, and 1 hit so far in June. The plug needed to be pulled yesterday.
The Angels are suddenly in desperate need of infielders.
Wouldn’t surprise me if they signed him. At this point I don’t care about defense.
Just do it already Chaim.
Was shocked the Marlins didn’t add him when they had him. Can’t be any worse than Segura.
Come back to Anaheim.
If the Angels don’t sign him tomorrow he must left on poor terms. The scrub the Angels are adding tomorrow needs to stay in AAA.
Just a shame what Iglesias has had to deal with this season. Such a solid and exciting player. He’s been a victim of the baseball “thinking” that every shortstop needs to hit 30 or more homers a year to be legit. I hope he catches on with a good team and finally gets into a World Series.
Pinga!
I wish him well…