The MLB Winter Meetings have a reputation for being the closest thing to the trade deadline that we get in the offseason. It’s much less active for some teams. It’s a period to start conversations that could end later on. Last year’s Winter Meetings weren’t especially active for the New York Mets as far as getting deals done.
However, two free agent deals were signed between December 4 and 6 when the event took place. One could argue it was their best and worst signings of the winter.
Jose Iglesias was a Mets Winter Meetings addition
Who would’ve guessed Jose Iglesias had it in him to completely change the culture around the Mets? Beyond the shift in the feel of the team, his relentless ability to put the bat on the ball and come up with clutch hits secured the team a playoff berth.
We all remember where we were during certain big moments of Iglesias’ season. When the Mets signed him to a minor league deal, you might have missed it entirely.
The Iglesias signing is a perfect representation of how a small move during that period can benefit a ball club. There’s also the opposite side of the spectrum when what looks like a nice bargain on a free agent doesn’t quite work out.
Michael Tonkin was a Mets Winter Meetings addition, too
A two-time Mets pitcher this past year, Michael Tonkin signed for $1 million. The fact that he got a major league deal and Iglesias didn’t has aged poorly. Although Tonkin did eventually have some good times as a member of the New York Yankees later in 2024, we remember him most for letting games slip away from the Mets in extra innings.
Tonkin was a preseason consideration to not even make the ball club as David Stearns loaded up on relievers who lacked minor league options. A convenient injury to Sean Reid-Foley solved the final roster dilemma. Tonkin would get his opportunity to show the Mets if he was worth the million bucks they were giving him. He wasn’t.
The Mets did have one other move of some significance during the Winter Meetings. Drafting Justin Slaten in the Rule 5 Draft and then immediately trading him to the Boston Red Sox was a clever move. It’s just a shame Slaten and his 2.93 ERA never had a chance to perform in a Mets uniform. More than a strikeout per inning and an impressive walk rate of 1.5 per 9, we can retroactively second-guess the Mets here.
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