With the New York Mets playing split-squad games on Sunday, the chances of an injury were doubled. In the first inning of one matchup, infielder Nick Madrigal exited after pursuing a ball that deflected off the pitcher.
Although no official diagnosis has been released yet, Mets fans wasted no time reacting and calling for the team to finally make the long-anticipated free-agent reunion.
Mets fans were quick to demand the return of Jose Iglesias after Nick Madrigal’s early exit
The signing of Nick Madrigal appeared to signal the end of Jose Iglesias’ time with the Mets, and with spring training games already in progress, that outcome seems even more likely. The Mets’ financial struggles stem from being in the “Cohen Tax” bracket, where any additional salary incurs a 110% penalty. As a result, signing Iglesias would cost the team more than double his actual salary.
It’s natural for Mets fans to call for an external addition whenever a player lands on the IL—or, in this case, simply exits a game early. When Frankie Montas got injured last week, many immediately suggested signing Jose Quintana. However, the Mets have opted to lean on their starting pitching depth for now. We should expect them to take the same approach with their infielders.
Madrigal may have been a roster favorite simply because he could be stashed on the bench, whereas players like Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña would benefit more from consistent playing time. Keeping them on the roster with limited at-bats wouldn’t make much sense.
The idea of a last-minute Mets reunion with Iglesias will likely stay just that—a dream. If the team didn’t rush to replace Montas after his injury, it’s even less likely they’ll bring in another infielder to cover for Madrigal’s absence.
At this point, the severity of Madrigal’s injury remains unclear. Will he shake it off and be back on the field tomorrow, or is this a Jed Lowrie situation where he becomes the next legendary mystery in Mets history?
