Trayce Thompson was quietly released by the New York Mets earlier this month and with just as little noise he signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal. An experienced MLB outfielder who struggled to stick in the majors regularly is the third player from the Mets organization to find his way to the north side of Chicago in the last two months.
While Thompson will have to battle his way to the majors for the Cubs, the other pair of ex-Mets have been going in opposite directions since signing with their new club.
How Tomas Nido has done with the Cubs
Upon the return of Francisco Alvarez from the IL, the Mets designated Tomas Nido for assignment. It was the anti-nostalgia move to make but also the right one. Luis Torrens has continued to play extremely well in a backup role for the Mets. Nido hasn’t taken off for the Cubs.
In what is a somewhat elevated backup role with Miguel Amaya, Nido has gone 5 for 34 to start his tenure in Chicago. A .147/.167/.206 slash line in 36 plate appearances isn’t unusual for Nido who hit even worse in 2023 before the Mets DFA’d him for the first time.
How Jorge Lopez has done with the Cubs
The situation with Jorge Lopez was complicated. His performance on the field warranted a longer look. Throwing his glove into the crowd and his comments after the game which seemed to call the Mets the worst team in the league (and himself the worst player) caused such a stir the team had no choice but to release him—or maybe discuss if there was some sort of a misunderstanding.
Lopez signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, but didn’t stay on the farm for long. The Cubs ignored the unwelcoming Lopez received in the minor leagues when teams scored 3 earned runs against him in 3.2 innings. However, things took a turn for the best in the majors. Through 5.2 innings, Lopez has allowed one run plus a pair of walks and strikeouts each. It’s a small sample but no surprise. He pitched well for the Mets. It was his emotional reaction that sent him packing.