“OMG” is on the move.
Jose Iglesias, whose hit-making at the plate and as a Latin pop star made him a revelation for the Mets last season, has agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres, according to FanSided.
The agreement ends a prolonged free agency for the 35-year-old infielder, who hit .337 in 85 games with the Mets last year.
Iglesias began last season in the minors with the Mets, but he quickly emerged as a difference-maker upon being called up in late May.
He recorded a .381 on-base percentage and an .830 OPS over 297 plate appearances, primarily as a second baseman but also seeing time at third base and shortstop.
Iglesias finished the season on a 22-game hitting streak, helping the Mets clinch the National League’s final wild-card spot.
But beyond his on-field production, Iglesias turned into a culture-setter with the release of his song, “OMG,” that became a rally anthem for the Mets amid their summer turnaround. Citi Field played the song after Mets home runs, and players celebrated by posing with an “OMG” sign in the dugout.
“He’s a great person and brings great vibes, and the song is catchy, but at the end of the day, it’s not just about the song,” Francisco Lindor told the Daily News of Iglesias in July.
“It’s about a bunch of guys playing for each other, and he’s a big part of why the clubhouse got together.”
The Mets were 23-33 when they called Iglesias up, then went 66-40 the rest of the way.
It was also a season of redemption for Iglesias, who, despite hitting .285 with the Colorado Rockies in 2022, could not find an MLB job in 2023.
“Definitely surprised,” Iglesias told The News in July of that lack of 2023 opportunities. “Very disappointed with the teams to not even give me a shot to compete after having such a good season in ’22, but it’s in the past. I never put my head down. I keep my chin up. I keep moving forward. I work hard.”
It was another slow-developing offseason for Iglesias, whose production with the Mets was largely based on batting average. He finished with four home runs and 26 RBI.
The Mets’ utility infield spot remains unsettled after Nick Madrigal suffered a shoulder fracture at the start of spring training. The Mets are trying out young players at multiple infield spots.
Brett Baty, a third baseman by trade, started Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at second base, a position he’s never played in an MLB game. Luisangel Acuña, a middle infielder and center fielder, started Tuesday at third base, a position he hasn’t played at any level.
A 12-year MLB veteran, Iglesias is a career .283 hitter who earned an All-Star selection with the Detroit Tigers in 2015.
After reaching the NLCS last season, the Mets signed Juan Soto to a record-setting contract and brought back Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, Jesse Winker and Ryne Stanek in an attempt to go even deeper.
Now, Iglesias is joining a National League contender that’s expected to be competing against them.
