NY Mets player thrown aside last year after meltdown gets a raise from NL East rival

In the wild world of what became of the 2024 New York Mets, no moment better represented rock bottom than when Jorge Lopez chucked his glove into the standings at Citi Field. It was only May 29 and the Mets pitcher who only a few short days earlier was pitching to a 2.25 ERA had now given up at least one earned run in his third consecutive outing. This was his most memorable and shortest of the stretch.

Lopez would go on to have some words after the game which might have been misspoken. The team wasted no time designating him for assignment, citing his actions on the field were the reason and not the words he said after the game.

Not long after, Lopez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. Quietly, he put together a strong 2.03 ERA across 26.2 innings of work while striking out 31. Buried out of the spotlight on a Cubs team going nowhere, he showed more than enough this offseason to get a raise from the Washington Nationals who’ll pay him $1 million more than the Mets did last winter when he signed for $2 million. This deal also has some incentives.

Jorge Lopez is back in the NL East and we already know he’s going to Austin Adams us if he can

Something about getting let go by the Mets upsets pitchers. Paul Sewald couldn’t wait to become a Mets villain even though a good number of fans probably forgot he was ever a member of the organization. Last year, it was Austin Adams who turned heel. Traded during spring training from the Mets to the Oakland Athletics, the veteran reliever showboated at Citi Field by mocking the OMG celebration after getting out of a fifth inning jam.

Fired up on adrenaline, Adams would later backtrack to try to save his reputation—whatever that may be other than hitting the most batters in a single season.

A former Mets player re-entering the division with bitterness always strikes a little bit of fear for some embarrassment. Any personal vendetta is bulletin board material enough for many athletes, particularly a relief pitcher who might only get one shot to go against a team they left with disgruntled feelings.

Lopez, as long as he doesn’t have the same kind of meltdown in D.C. (a city where antics like this get you elected, ironically enough), should have multiple chances to call upon lady vengeance against the Mets.