5 former NY Mets players who signed with an NL East rival this offseason

4) Jorge Lopez

Teaming up with Rosario in the nation’s capital is Jorge Lopez. Goldfish remember him and not because he knocked over a bowl when he tossed his glove into the stands; he just happens to be a recent and significant player from last season. His numbers don’t matter much because his dramatic exit in a late May game at Citi Field is what we recall most about him.

Lopez did manage to pitch in the majors again last year for the Chicago Cubs. He did well and apparently the Nationals were turned off enough by his implosion with the NL East rival Mets to think twice about adding him to their bullpen. Lopez might have been someone who could have stayed and turned things around last season if not for that one fateful day. Let’s not go trying to rewrite history, though. Instead, cross your fingers there’s no vendetta game where we come out as the losers.

5) Eddy Alvarez

The most recently employed member of the Mets on this list, Eddy Alvarez might somehow be the one whose name you most easily forgot. That’s because he had only 11 plate appearances for the Mets last season and no hits. He was with the team following a trade with the Boston Red Sox in September. Once the club called up Luisangel Acuna, he became unnecessary.

Predictably, only a minor league deal was what Alvarez was able to secure. He signed one with the Braves in early January. Like everyone on this list, we hope he never has his moment to punish the Mets. If he does, expect it to involve him running amuck on the bases as a pinch runner.