Mets plan to DFA Jorge Lopez, source says, after reliever throws glove in stands following ejection in loss to Dodgers
Jorge Lopez #52 of the New York Mets looks on during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
So here’s the recap of Mets reliever Jorge Lopez’s day at Citi Field on Wednesday:
After giving up a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 10-3 loss to the Dodgers and getting ejected for arguing a checked swing, Lopez threw his glove over the protective netting and into the stands behind the Mets’ first-base dugout.
Then, after manager Carlos Mendoza called Lopez’s actions “not acceptable” and the Mets closed the clubhouse for 20 minutes to hold players-only meeting (to talk about all their losing, not Lopez’s glove-throwing), Lopez was asked if he regretted his actions.
“No,” Lopez said. “I don’t regret it. I think I’ve been looking [like] the worst teammate in probably the whole [expletive] MLB. So whatever happened happened. Whatever they want to do, I’ll be here [Thursday] if they want me. Whatever they want to do. I’m going to keep doing this thing. I’m healthy and . . . I’m ready to come back tomorrow. If they want me to be here, I’ll be here.”
They don’t.
A source said the Mets are planning to remove Lopez from the roster by designating him for assignment.
The Mets signed Lopez in December to a one-year $2-million free-agent contract. The 31-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, spent last season with the Twins, Marlins and Orioles.
Last June 18, the Twins placed Lopez on the 15-day injured list because he needed to step away from the game to tend to his mental health – in particular, dealing with unsuccessful outings.
Lopez, an All-Star in 2022, returned to the Twins on July 4 after working with a therapist. Minnesota traded him to Miami on July 28 before the Marlins waived him about a month later. He was claimed on waivers by Baltimore on Sept. 2 and then became a free agent. Lopez was the first reliever signed to a major-league deal by Mets team president David Stearns.
After allowing two runs in 1/3 of an inning on Wednesday, Lopez is 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA and two saves in 28 games for the Mets.
Here’s how it all unfolded: With the score 3-3 in the eighth, Will Smith hit a tie-breaking home run off Adam Ottavino. Ohtani capped L.A.’s six-run inning with a two-run homer off Lopez. The Dodgers went on to sweep the three-game series.
After Ohtani’s blast, Lopez was ejected by third base umpire Ramon DeJesus for disputing a checked-swing ball call on Freddie Freeman. As Lopez walked to the dugout, he untucked his Mets jersey and then threw his glove underhand high and into his stands.
When asked about the ejection, Lopez said: “Just a misunderstanding. Just something out of emotion, and I don’t give a [expletive].”
Lopez called throwing the glove “a bad look” and said, “I’m proud to be here every day . . . I don’t care. I don’t care. Just a bad look.”
Lopez admitted he let his emotions get the better of him after getting ejected. He also alluded to “working on stuff” regarding his mental health.
“I love this game since I was [a] kid,” he said. “It’s nothing to feel bad about. I’m the way I am . . . I’m not afraid to be me.”
Said Mendoza: “Whenever you got through a stretch like this, you're going to see some emotions from players, from anybody in here, but what we saw today from Lopez, that’s not acceptable. We will address that internally here.”
Brandon Nimmo said the Mets did not discuss Lopez’s actions in their team meeting.
About the meeting, which was initiated by Francisco Lindor, Nimmo said: “It's no secret that things aren't going the way that we want around here. So we just opened the floor and talked about ways we can turn it around, ways that we can still have a good process moving forward, and ways that we can stay positive even through this tough time.”
The Mets (22-33) have lost three in a row, eight of nine and 10 of 12. But they do still have 107 games left.
As Ottavino put it: “We stink right now. It doesn’t mean we’re going to stink going forward.”
Or, as Lindor said: “We’ve still got time. We have to get it done. We have to get it done.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
