Baltimore Orioles Smartly Keep Jose Iglesias for 2021 Season

The Baltimore Orioles are making wise moves to put some veterans in the infield for the 2021 season.

First, the Baltimore Orioles claimed veteran infielder Yolmer Sanchez from the White Sox, and then they acted on the $3.5 million option to keep Jose Iglesias at shortstop for one more season.

After Iglesias posted his best career offense numbers in 2020, the Orioles brass would have foolish to let the consistently-hitting shortstop go for $500,000.

With so many clubs furloughing stadium staff, the free agency market might be slow and low. So, staying with the Orioles is most likely a good move for Iglesias, too.

It’s likely the 2021 infield will have Sanchez at third, Iglesias at short, and Hanser Alberto at second. The pressing question for the Orioles is who will man first. Renato Nunez or Ryan Mountcastle. Both are good choices, and would help create a formidable infield for the up-and-coming Birds.

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Had there been an All-Star Game in 2020, it is very likely that Iglesias would have been one of a handful of Orioles on the team. Anthony Santander definitely deserved a spot on an All-Star Game roster. Finally, MLB realized that Iglesias deserved some attention for his notable consistency at the plate in 2020. Iglesias is in the running to be on the All-MLB Team. He’s competing against eight other shortstops, but none come close to his .373 batting average. Only Trea Turner has a better OPS, with a .982 to Iglesias’s .956.

You can vote for Iglesias and other players here. Unfortunately for Orioles fans, Iglesias is the only Bird on the 2020 All-MLB team. He’s competing against the most notable shortstops in the game today like Corey Seager, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Tim Anderson.

As award season approaches, only one Orioles player is up for a Gold Glove award: Anthony Santander. But, with Iglesias’s .373 batting average dwarfing all other shortstops, it begs the questions of whether he will win a Silver Slugger for his 2020 performance? Yes, he only hit three home runs, but his 17 double led all shortstops. Remember, he did all of this in only 39 games.

Hopefully, Iglesias can maintain his consistency both on defense and at the plate. As one of the few players over 30, he led the team to a surprising record of 25-35 (remember the O’s weren’t expected to win much at all). The Orioles were smart to re-sign him for the 2021 season.