Padres bring on quality veteran slugger to start 2025 MLB season
The San Diego Padres have given Jose Iglesias a roster spot to begin the 2025 MLB season.
Padres: Jose Iglesias makes cut after competitive spring
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Iglesias will be on the Padres' 26-man roster on Opening Day (h/t The Sporting News' Aaliyan Mohammed). Iglesias was among a bevy of veteran talents that the Padres brought on in the offseason. He previously parted ways with the New York Mets after a stout 2024 campaign.
Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Last season, the 35-year-old hit an astounding .337 at the plate with 39 runs scored for the Mets. Iglesias was a playoff hero for New York, helping them reach the NLCS. Albeit, the Mets prioritized roster flexibility and cultivating their young talent over bringing the veteran slugger back for 2025. Now, he'll look to help San Diego win a World Series in the upcoming season.
Iglesias will be an uber-efficient bat for Padres in 2025
Iglesias will give the Padres a reliable bat in the middle, or at the end of their batting order. San Diego has a wealth of elite sluggers atop their order that could be driven to home plate by the seasoned veteran. Iglesias will be an option to backup shortstop Xander Bogaerts, third baseman Manny Machado, or second baseman Jake Cronenworth. The Padres have much to look forward to, as he could be a game-changing presence for their Fall Classic pursuit.
More must-reads:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dodgers rally after rough start by Landon Knack to split series with Mets
Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack delivers against the New York Mets in the first inning Thursday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) It was supposed to be a day off for Freddie Freeman. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quipped before the game that the 35-year-old veteran first baseman had begun to understand the value of an off day as he's dealt with discomfort in his ankle this season. Advertisement But with the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth inning, Roberts summoned Freeman off the bench. Was it time for another magical, Freddie Freeman moment at Chavez Ravine? Not so fast. Mets manager Craig Counsell called for an intentional walk, and up walked Michael Conforto. The 46,364 fans at Dodger Stadium already booed the struggling outfielder after his third-inning strikeout. Hitting .165 entering the game, he was one of the unlikeliest to lead the Dodgers to a comeback victory. He'd yet to come through. But all Conforto needed was one hit, one chance. And he delivered. Against Mets setup man Reed Garrett, Conforto ripped a go-ahead RBI single into left field, helping the Dodgers complete a three-run comeback to defeat the Mets 6-5 and salvage a series split against a potential NL playoff opponent. Advertisement Conforto's first hit with runners in scoring position since March 31 — and his first hit this season with runners in scoring position with two outs — put the Dodgers two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West after their 3-2 loss to the Giants on Thursday. Mets southpaw David Peterson had made things difficult before the eighth. He struck out six and gave up three runs across seven innings. Read more: Will Dodgers' pitchers ever get healthy? How the team is tackling its biggest problem The longevity the Mets got from Peterson, however, was the opposite of what the Dodgers received from right-hander Landon Knack. Advertisement Knack had turned a corner across his last two outings. Against both New York teams, he twirled a career-high-tying six innings and gave up just one earned run in each start. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior paid close attention to Knack's adjustments, praising his rise from early-season appearances in which he was bounced from games, giving up five runs against the Nationals and Athletics. 'His ability is to be able to throw multiple pitches in any count, in any situation, and that was a little bit off early on,' Prior said, 'but now I think he's starting to finally get into the groove and kind of get back to where he was throwing the ball last year.' Prior noted what Knack could do when he's on — mixing pitches and speeds, making for off-balance at-bats. But he also explained what happens when Knack is off — leaving pitches in the middle zone, while falling behind in counts. Pete Alonso slides past Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score a run for the Mets in the third inning Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Knack was at his least effective Thursday. He gave up four runs — including three home runs — leaving fastballs over the plate to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte in the first and third innings. He also walked five across 3 ⅓ innings. Advertisement Roberts had to lean on his bullpen. Jack Dreyer took the ball through the middle of the fifth and José Ureña — who signed with the Dodgers on Tuesday — pitched 2 ⅓ innings to help save bullpen arms ahead of a six-game trip starting Friday in St. Louis. Roberts, who said before the game that he was still deciding whether Friday would feature a spot start or a bullpen game, might have had his hand forced toward the former after Knack's short outing. Southpaw Justin Wrobleski's turn in the rotation is up in triple-A Oklahoma City and would be a likely choice should the Dodgers turn to a spot start. Wrobleski gave up five runs in four innings during his last triple-A appearance. Read more: Shohei Ohtani thought he was 'in trouble' before Dave Roberts gifted him a toy Porsche Etc. Roberts said right-handed relief pitchers Kirby Yates (right hamstring strain) and Michael Kopech (right shoulder impingement) have a 'good possibility' of being activated off the injured list during the weekend series in St. Louis. Advertisement Likely candidates to be removed from the 26-man roster over the next few days are Ryan Loutos (five earned runs in three innings with the Dodgers) — who gave up a three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Mets — and Ureña. Outfielders James Outman and Esteury Ruiz both had lockers in the Dodgers clubhouse Thursday. Roberts said the duo were on the taxi squad — as insurance for Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman — and would likely be headed back to triple-A later in the day. Roberts gave clean bills of health to Edman (right ankle) and Kim (fouled a ball off his foot). Edman returned to the Dodgers' lineup after two days off and hit sixth at second base. 'Looks like we're out of the clear with those two active guys,' Roberts said. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fox Sports
36 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Conforto comes through, Dodgers rally in 8th for 6-5 victory abetted by Mets fielding mishap
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Conforto drove in the tiebreaking run in the Dodgers' three-run eighth inning, and Los Angeles rallied for a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday to split the NL powers' four-game series. Conforto has struggled mightily in his first season with the Dodgers, but he drove a two-out single to left off Reed Garrett (1-2) for the Dodgers' third unearned run of the eighth. Will Smith delivered an RBI double moments earlier, and he scored the tying run when the Mets comically misplayed Andy Pages' grounder to Brett Baty at third. Mookie Betts had an RBI double and reached base four times for the Dodgers, who went 4-3 on their homestand against New York's two teams. Alex Vesia (2-0) got one out in the eighth. Tanner Scott earned his 11th save with his second straight solid performance during a rough season. Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte hit early homers and David Peterson pitched seven effective innings of three-run ball for the Mets, who lost for only the third time in 12 games. Landon Knack couldn't escape the fourth inning for the Dodgers, allowing four hits and five walks. He has been forced into the rotation of a team with 15 pitchers making more than $100 million combined on its injured list. Francisco Lindor sat out with a broken right pinky toe after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday. Key moment Smith appeared to be a sure out at the plate when he tried to score from third on Pages' short grounder — until Baty made a low throw home and catcher Francisco Alvarez couldn't field it. Garrett grabbed the ball, but was accidentally blocked from the plate by Alvarez, preventing the reliever from tagging Smith. Key stat Conforto was in a 5-for-42 slump over the past three weeks before his big hit. He's batting .167. Up next The Dodgers haven't announced a pitching plan for Friday's series opener at St. Louis. Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.60 ERA) pitches for the Mets at MLB-worst Colorado. ___ AP MLB: recommended
Los Angeles Times
41 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Dodgers rally after rough start by Landon Knack to split series with Mets
It was supposed to be a day off for Freddie Freeman. Dave Roberts quipped before the game that the 35-year-old veteran first baseman had begun to understand the value of an off day as he's dealt with discomfort in his ankle this season. But with the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth inning, Roberts called Freeman's name off the bench. Was it time for another magical, Freddie Freeman moment at Chavez Ravine? Not so fast. Mets manager Craig Counsell called for an intentional walk, and up walked Michael Conforto. The 46,364 fans at Dodger Stadium already booed the struggling outfielder after his third-inning strikeout. Hitting .165 entering the game, he was already one of the unlikeliest to lead the Dodgers to a comeback victory. He'd yet to come through. But all Conforto needed was one hit, one chance. And he delivered. Against Mets setup man Reed Garrett, Conforto ripped a go-ahead RBI single into left field, helping the Dodgers complete a three-run comeback to defeat the Mets 6-5 and salvage a series split against their potential NL Pennant rivals. Conforto's heroics place the Dodgers two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West after their 3-2 loss to the Giants on Thursday. Mets southpaw David Peterson had made things difficult before the eighth. He struck out six and gave up three runs across seven innings. The longevity the Mets got from Peterson, however, was the opposite of what the Dodgers received from right-hander Landon Knack. Knack had turned a corner across his last two outings. Against both New York teams, he twirled a career-high-tying six innings and gave up just one earned run in each start. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior paid close attention to Knack's adjustments, praising his rise from early-season appearances in which he was bounced from games, giving up five runs against the Nationals and Athletics. 'His ability is to be able to throw multiple pitches in any count, in any situation, and that was a little bit off early on,' Prior said, 'but now I think he's starting to finally get into the groove and kind of get back to where he was throwing the ball last year.' Prior noted what Knack could do when he's on — mixing pitches and speeds, making for off-balance at-bats. But he also explained what happens when Knack is off — leaving pitches in the middle zone, while falling behind in counts. Knack at his least effective Thursday. He gave up four runs — including three home runs — leaving fastballs over the plate to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte in the first and third innings. He also walked five across 3 ⅓ innings. Roberts had to lean on his bullpen. Jack Dreyer took the ball through the middle of the fifth and José Ureña — who signed with Dodgers on Tuesday — pitched 2 ⅓ innings to help save bullpen arms ahead of a six-game trip starting Friday in St. Louis. Roberts, who said before the game that he was still deciding whether Friday would feature a spot start or a bullpen game, might have had his hand forced toward the former after Knack's short outing. Southpaw Justin Wrobleski's turn in the rotation is up in triple-A Oklahoma City and would be a likely choice should the Dodgers turn to a spot start. Wrobleski gave up five runs in four innings pitched during his last triple-A appearance. Roberts said right-handed relief pitchers Kirby Yates (right hamstring strain) and Michael Kopech (right shoulder impingement) have a 'good possibility' of being activated off the injured list during the weekend series in St. Louis. Likely candidates to be removed from the 26-man roster over the next few days are Ryan Loutos (five earned runs in three innings with the Dodgers) — who gave up a three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Mets — and Ureña. Outfielders James Outman and Esteury Ruiz both had lockers in the Dodgers clubhouse Thursday. Roberts said the duo were on the taxi squad — as insurance for Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman — and would likely be headed back to triple-A later in the day. Roberts gave clean bills of health to Edman (right ankle) and Kim (fouled a ball off his foot). Edman returned to the Dodgers' lineup after two days off and hit sixth at second base. 'Looks like we're out of the clear with those two active guys,' Roberts said.
