Mets Reportedly DFA Jorge López After Viral Comments Following Ejection vs. Dodgers

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIMay 30, 2024

Adam Hunger/Getty Images

New York Mets relief pitcher Jorge López provided a blunt and honest assessment on the state of his team after a 10-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

SNY @SNYtv”I think I’ve been on the worst team in probably the whole f–king MLB.”

– Jorge López pic.twitter.com/NB0cDJ5w0i

SNY @SNYtvJorge López was asked to clarify his comments about the Mets being “the worst team in the whole f–king MLB” pic.twitter.com/xjaJhGsCOz

López’ remarks were in response to a question from SNY’s Steve Gelbs regarding whether he regretted throwing his glove into the stands following his eighth-inning ejection.

SNY @SNYtvJorge López has been ejected by third base umpire Ramon De Jesus.

López threw his glove into the crowd on his way off the field. pic.twitter.com/5BlF6badFQ

López said that he did not regret the act, which manager Carlos Mendoza said was “not acceptable” and would be handled internally.

The pitcher’s remarks happened after Mendoza’s comments. Shortly thereafter, word emerged that López would be designated for assignment, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComoRegarding confusion over whether López said he was on “the worst team” or was “the worst teammate,” I’m told López later explained his comments as a combination of both: the worst teammate on the worst team.

The 22-33 Mets have gone 10-25 since a 12-8 start. They’ve lost six straight series (going 4-15 in that span) since a two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals brought the Mets to 18-18.

MLB’s worst team right now is the 15-41 Chicago White Sox, but the Mets have certainly looked like the league’s worst team in their last 19 games.

It’s understandable for López to be upset, especially after he took the loss by giving up three runs (two earned) in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers in 10 innings on Tuesday. He followed that up with two earned runs in one-third of an inning Wednesday courtesy of a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani.

MLB @MLBShohei Ohtani blasts an oppo-taco in Queens! pic.twitter.com/KhaoPZaTZn

López then appeared upset that a strike wasn’t called on Freddie Freeman on a check swing in the next at-bat. Third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus then appeared to take exception to López’ reaction, leading to the ejection.

Throwing a glove into the stands and then calling his team the worst in MLB was a bridge too far, though.

Afterward, Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino defended his teammate.

SNY @SNYtv”Jorge’s a good guy inside. Deep down, he knows he shouldn’t have done that.”

Adam Ottavino defends Jorge López after his ejection, glove toss and postgame comments: pic.twitter.com/YOlv5ze21e

The only positive to come out of the situation was that López gave a fan a new souvenir.

B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffQuite the souvenir to take home 😂 pic.twitter.com/oGbmZELFL1

As for the Mets, this has been a nightmare stretch that only got worse Wednesday. The Mets notably had a team meeting afterward, per DiComo, with shortstop Francisco Lindor calling for it.

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComoFrancisco Lindor on the Mets’ team meeting: pic.twitter.com/Nea4VbmtJ8

And on the injury front, first baseman Pete Alonso was hit in the right hand with a pitch and left the game. X-rays were normal, but the team awaits CT scan results. Also, Mets closer Edwin Diaz landed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.