ESPN: Mets Hero, veteran infielder sign a mega deal with the Padres.

In the midst of several rumors, a source told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez that veteran infielder Jose Iglesias had reached an agreement on a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.

An invitation to major league spring training is part of the deal. If he is added to the major league roster, his 2025 salary will be $3 million.

During the New York Mets’ march to the National League Championship Series last year, Iglesias, 35, was a driving force both on and off the field.

After Jeff McNeil broke his wrist, he became the Mets’ starting second baseman in September and the postseason, hitting.337 with four home runs and 26 RBIs. Last summer, he signed a minor league contract with the Mets, and on May 31, he was called up to assist the team, then 10 games below.500, turn things around.

His popular song “OMG” was well received by the Mets’ supporters and in the clubhouse off the field. To commemorate significant occasions, the Mets even had a “OMG” sign in the dugout.

Iglesias is a lifetime veteran with 12 seasons of experience. has 392 RBIs, 51 home runs, and is a 283 hitter.

In 2024, the Mets once again led in expenditure; MLB compensation totaled over $5.1 billion.

For the third consecutive season in 2024, the Mets lead the major leagues in expenditure. Under owner Steve Cohen, the team has spent $1.36 billion on payroll and luxury tax over the last four years, more than the Marlins, Pirates, and Rays had spent on players combined over the previous 21 seasons.

According to numbers confirmed by Major League Baseball this week and acquired by The Associated Press, the Mets set a regular payroll record of $333.3 million. The Mets became the first club to surpass $300 million in 2023, setting the previous record of $319.5 million.

To achieve a cost record, New York collected $430.4 million in payroll and luxury tax ($97.1 million) last year. The previous year, the Mets paid $420 million, which included a tax of $100.8 million.

To achieve a cost record, New York collected $430.4 million in payroll and luxury tax ($97.1 million) last year. The previous year, the Mets paid $420 million, which included a tax of $100.8 million.

From 2021 to 2024, New York spent slightly more on big league players than the Marlins ($1.34 billion), Pirates ($1.32 billion), and Rays ($1.32 billion) paid out from 2004 and 2024.

In contrast, the Pirates have spent $271 million and the Athletics have spent a minimum of $269 million over the last four seasons.

Based on regular payrolls, total spending grew 1.8% to $5.158 billion from $5.065 billion the previous year. Under the current labor contract, spending has grown 27.3% in three seasons from $4.051 billion in 2021.

Since the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2014 to 2017, the Mets became the only club to lead in payrolls for three consecutive seasons.

With a team-high $310.9 million, the New York Yankees came in second among regular payrolls. The Philadelphia Phillies were in fourth place with $249.1 million, followed by the World Series champion Dodgers in third place with $270.8 million.

There were 10 teams that made over $200 million, compared to a record 11 in 2023. Four clubs, down from six in 2023, were below $100 million, a historic low.