The New York Mets released right-hander Jorge Lopez on Wednesday, six days after he was designated for assignment following his ejection from a game and glove toss into the stands.
In other moves Wednesday, the Mets released catcher Omar Narvaez after his DFA; transferred right-hander Shintaro Fujinami (right shoulder strain) from the 15-day to 60-day injured list; and selected the contract of catcher Joe Hudson and transferred him to Triple-A Syracuse.
Lopez last pitched on May 29, when he was thrown out of the Mets’ 10-3 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Lopez argued a check-swing call by third base umpire Ramon De Jesus. Lopez threw his mitt into the stands after his ejection.
Asked after the game by an SNY reporter if he regretted his actions, Lopez said no and called the Mets “the worst team in the whole (expletive) MLB.”
Lopez attempted to clarify his comments May 30 on Instagram, insisting that he said that he was the “worst teammate.”
“Thanks media for (making) it worse,” he added.
The Mets DFA’d him on May 30 and had seven days to trade or release Lopez or send him outright to the minors. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the team has standards, and players can be emotional when not playing well and frustrated, but Lopez “went over the line.”
Lopez, 31, allowed home runs in each of his past three appearances. He was 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA and two saves in 28 games in his first season with the Mets.
An All-Star in 2022, Lopez is 23-42 with a 5.42 ERA and 29 saves in 258 career games (58 starts) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins and Mets.
Narvaez, 32, last played for the Mets on May 30 and was batting .154 (10-for-65) in 28 games. He was an All-Star in 2021 with Milwaukee.
Hudson, 33, was added to the 40-man roster. The Mets purchased him from the Chicago Cubs on April 11.
–Field Level Media