MLB Rumors: Jorge López, Cubs Agree to Minor-League Contract After Mets Release
June 12, 2024
One week after being released by the New York Mets, reliever Jorge López will look to provide a spark in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen.
Per The Athletic's Will Sammon and Patrick Mooney, López agreed to a minor-league deal with the Cubs on Wednesday.
López had a notable exit from the Mets that started with an ejection when he argued a check swing call in the eighth inning of a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29.
As López was walking off the field toward the Mets dugout after being ejected by third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus, he tossed his glove over the protective netting and into the stands.
There was some confusion after the game during his postgame press conference. López, who is from Puerto Rico and speaks English as his second language, was initially thought to have said he plays for the "worst f--king team in the MLB."
In a post on Instagram (h/t Sammon and Jenna West), López clarified he said he was being the "worst teammate" in the league.
"During that interview, I spoke candidly about my frustrations with my personal performance and how I felt it made me 'the worst teammate in the entire league,'" López wrote. "Unfortunately, my efforts to address the media in English created some confusion and generated headlines that do not reflect what I was trying to express."
The Mets designated López for assignment on May 30, giving them seven days to either trade or release him. He went unclaimed on waivers, allowing the team to officially release him on June 5.
López signed a one-year deal with the Mets as a free agent in December. He had a 3.76 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 11 walks in 26.1 innings over 28 appearances.
The Cubs, who are tied for last in the NL Central with a 32-35 record, need any bullpen help they can find right now. Their relievers rank 24th in ERA (4.47), 24th in home run rate (1.03 per nine innings) and 25th in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (0.2).
