Inside The Mets

Ex-Mets Controversial Pitcher Signs With NL East Rival

Relief pitcher Jorge López, whose tenure with the Mets did not end on good terms, is signing a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals.
Logan VanDine|
May 7, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (52) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
May 7, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (52) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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After a controversial tenure with the New York Mets, this relief pitcher is returning to the NL East.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Saturday that reliever Jorge López is signing a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals. Jon Heyman of the New York Post later added that the deal is worth $3 million, with additional incentives.

López, 31, pitched for the Mets last season after signing a one-year deal in December 2023 and initially looked to be a solid addition to the bullpen. The right-hander ultimately went 1-1 last season for New York in 28 games, pitching 26.1 innings and logging a 3.76 ERA with 19 strikeouts, a 1.37 WHIP, and two saves.

However, his tenure with the Amazins' ended on abrupt and controversial terms when he made an appearance in a lopsided game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29, 2024. After giving up a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani in the top of the eighth inning, López was ejected by the third base umpire after arguing a check-swing call. While walking off the field, the reliever was seen throwing his glove into the stands and untucking his jersey as well.

After the game, López seemingly called the Mets "the worst team in all of (expletive) MLB," but later clarified and explained he meant to say "the worst teammate on the worst team in baseball." In direct response to the incident, New York designated López for assignment the following day and eventually released him on June 5, 2024.

Less than a week later, the Chicago Cubs signed the righty on a minor league deal and in 24 appearances, López went 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts across 26.2 innings.

López will now return to the NL East and face off against the team that let him go; considering his murky departure, it wouldn't be surprising if he harbors harsh feelings toward them.

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan

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