Yankees’ final free agent infield dream dies with latest Padres signing…
It’s official. The New York Yankees will not be able to capture the 2024 Mets’ magic in the upcoming season (in one specific way).
In the final roster blow that we all knew was coming, but didn’t want to admit during the intervening lull, free agent infielder Jose Iglesias has agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres, per FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray.
Iglesias professed throughout the offseason that he’d love to return to the New York Mets, but that bridge appeared to be burned by Mets management months ago. Despite inspiring the “OMG” celebration that helped fuel an underdog run to the NLCS, the veteran infielder didn’t quite have the same sway as Pete Alonso. Try as he might, he couldn’t get David Stearns and Steve Cohen to a private meeting to hammer out a deal.
And so the Padres will benefit from the 35-year-old spark plug who posted a 137 (!!!) OPS+ last season, while the Yankees either stick with their internal infield options (Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza) or pull off a last-second trade.
Free-agent infielder Jose Iglesias and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a contract, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 5, 2025
Yankees News: Padres sign Jose Iglesias as NYY’s infield depth chart remains unsettled
It was less than 48 hours ago that Joel Sherman covered how “lucky” the Yankees were that Iglesias was still available, coming off a season where he was integral to their crosstown rivals. Unfortunately, even with the infielder in desperation mode, the Yankees still preferred to squeeze as much juice possible out of Peraza, who is out of minor-league options and must be either carried on the Opening Day roster or DFA’d.
Either they’ve seen enough to get behind him this spring (he’s received the second-most at-bats on the team in spring training action), or they really are as “out of loot” as has been reported in recent weeks.
While last-minute trades like Nolan Arenado, Luis Rengifo, Luis Arraez and Willi Castro are still technically on the table (and might’ve been hinted at by Aaron Boone recently), adding Iglesias would’ve allowed the Yankees to stick to a short-term commitment without surrendering any non-monetary assets. We knew this was coming, but it’s still a downer.
Yankees insider hints at major roster decision or pre-Opening Day trade for New York..
There are a number of issues the New York Yankees must sort out by Opening Day, and they plan to use spring training as their experimental grounds (though it very much feels like one of the richest teams in baseball shouldn’t be doing that).
Should they leave a couple of minor roles up for grabs? Sure! But to not have a starting third baseman or a leadoff hitter feels excessive. Throw in the continued left field problems, assuming you aren’t sold on Jasson Dominguez’s defense yet, as well as Giancarlo Stanton’s injury (which was known by the organization since last year), and this just feels like malpractice.
Sadly, however, it’s the reality. And with three weeks until the start of the season, the Yankees aren’t necessarily closer to any answers — unless there’s stuff going on behind closed doors reporters and fans are unaware of.
As it pertains to left field, though Dominguez has looked improved after early hiccups, the elephant in the room will not exit calmly until the top prospect is seen consistently performing at an above-average level on the defensive side of the ball. Either that, or he turns into a 30-homer bat and the team lives with below-average defense. That’s a fair trade off.
But if there are growing pains on both ends? It’ll be a tough situation to bear day in and day out. So perhaps New York Post and Yankees insider Joel Sherman is onto something with his latest revelation.
Why the Yankees lineup issues vs. lefty pitching could force them them to make a trade before the end of Spring Training?
New episode of Pinstripe Post with @Joelsherman1.
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— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 5, 2025
Yankees Rumors: Could Everson Pereira be massive key to NYY’s offseason?
Once a top-three prospect, Everson Pereira’s luster is as faded as it could possibly be before irrelevancy sets in. His highly-anticipated 2023 debut was terrible (.151 AVG, .427 OPS in 27 games) and it was followed up with Tommy John surgery in 2024. That’s limited him to only taking DH reps at the start of the offseason, but everything could change once he’s ready to take the field. The only problem is it’s unclear when that will be.
Sherman suggests Pereira could be a platoon option in left field with Dominguez if the latter’s defense doesn’t improve and if Aaron Boone wants to alternate vs lefties and righties. Pereira has experience at all three outfield spots and is regarded as a promising defender. It’s not outlandish to consider as he enters his age-24 season. This feels like some sort of make-or-break year for him in a way.
Let’s say Pereria takes a leap and Dominguez gets his act together by living up to his billing. Well, that’s a good problem to have, isn’t it? Sherman suggests that could lead to Pereira becoming a trade chip to help the Yankees get the necessary roster aid they need, as he segwayed into the third base discussion.
