The Mets infield depth took a hit yesterday, as suffered a fracture in his left shoulder. Thatll rule the former fourth overall pick out for quite some time and leaves the club in need of a utility infielder. Neverthele s, reports that the Mets remain unlikely to circle back to . President of baseball operations David Stearns of re-signing Iglesias two weeks ago. While it was fair to wonder if the Madrigal injury changed the thought proce s, theyd face the same roster inflexibility that deterred them from a reunion in the first place. In his earlier comments, Wes Iwundu Jersey Stearns pointed to a desire to have someone with minor league options taking the final bench spot. Iglesias, a player with well over five years of service time, cannot be sent to the minors without his approval. Madrigal still has an option remaining. Hes 85 days away from cro sing the five-year service threshold himself and will add to that tally while hes on the major league injured list. If he spends the first three months of the season on the IL, the Mets could no longer option him either. The Mets have three bench spots ticketed to players who cannot be sent down: backup catcher and outfielders and (or if Siri plays center field). Aside from starting catcher , the backup infielder is the only spot where the Mets can shuffle through position players unle s they went to a 12-man pitching staff. Iglesias was an excellent find for New York last year on a minor league deal. The Mets selected his contract at the end of May. The veteran shortstop hit .337/.381/.448 acro s 291 plate appearances while emerging as a clubhouse and fan favorite. Iglesias is a career .283 hitter, but his offensive approach (plenty of contact with minimal power and almost no walks) isnt held in high esteem by most of todays front offices. Teams surely do not expect him to repeat last years huge production, which came behind a .382 average on balls in play that is nearly 70 points higher than his career mark. Madrigals injury does leave the Mets with an imperfect set of options for their final roster spot. Theres probably not a ton of playing time available for whomever that will be. Neither nor take many days off. will be at third base almost every day. There could be a few at-bats at second base, but had a big second half to earn the majority of the playing time there. The Mets will want their utility player to be capable of playing up the middle, occasionally at shortstop. and are the best defensive options on the 40-man roster, but theyre among the organizations more talented young hitters. Its probably preferable for them to play regularly at Triple-A Syracuse than to get scattered big league reps. (Mauricio might open the season on the IL as he finishes his rehab from 2023 ACL surgery.) The playing time caveat is also true of , who is a corner bat anyways. is the only other infielder on the 40-man roster. Hes mostly a first baseman/corner outfielder. While he has some second base experience, he isnt an option at shortstop. and are in camp as non-roster invitees, but Walton is also out of options, meaning the Mets couldnt send him back down without putting him on waivers if they call him up at any point. That might bode well for De Los Santos, an offseason waiver claim whom the Mets outrighted off the 40-man as the corresponding move for the Madrigal signing. Boban Marjanovic Jersey
