This story has been updated to reflect Jorge Lopez’s latest clarification on Thursday.
The New York Mets have underperformed in 2024, and one of the team’s top relievers has seemingly had enough. Following a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing off a sweep of the Mets, 2022 All-Star Jorge Lopez had this to say about his team:
OUCH! The worst team in MLB?
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo sought even further clarification on if Lopez was calling the Mets the “worst team” or himself the “worst teammate.”
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“I’m told Lopez later explained his comments as a combination of both: the worst teammate on the worst team,” DiComo reported.
In a now deleted Instagram post, Lopez pushed back at the notion that he had called the Mets the “worst team” and clarified that he was saying “worst teammate.”
Mets beat reporter Manny Gómez offered his own thoughts on what has been a confounding situation. The reporter first explains that Lopez’s first language is not English. Gómez explains that he and other reporters listened to over three minutes of audio that culminates in the quote: “I think I been looking (like) the worst teammate probably in the whole f—ing MLB.” While the quote that is often referenced states: “I think I’ve been on the worst team in probably the whole f—ing MLB.”
The point that has been made across the transom of publications is that Lopez was asked in the moment to clarify. It’s to this point that Gómez has additional nuance:
Lopez’s emotions were obviously running high during this interview. Lopez had been ejected from the game for arguing a check swing call with the third base umpire. After the ejection, Lopez threw his glove into the stands in frustration, which manager Carlos Mendoza called “unacceptable.”
Lopez ended the day having pitched just 0.1 innings, surrendering two earned runs on two hits and one walk.
What will happen to Lopez?
The Mets will DFA Lopez, according to multiple reports.
While the decision makes sense given what Lopez did and said, it’s still a little shocking considering the success Lopez has had this season. In 2024, Lopez has posted a 3.12 ERA. He is one of only two relievers on the team to have pitched at least 20 innings while maintaining an ERA under 3.50.
What does DFA mean?
When a player is DFA’d (Designated for Assignment), he is immediately removed from the team’s 40-man roster. The team then has seven days to either return the player to the 40-man roster, place them on waivers, trade them, release them, or send them down to the minor leagues.
Given Lopez’s solid start to 2024, it would not be a shock for him to find a new team quickly should the Mets decide to place him on waivers or release him outright.
Are the Mets actually ‘the worst team in baseball?’
Record-wise, no. The Mets have a better record than the Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, and Chicago White Sox, with the White Sox having the worst record in baseball at 15-41.
Even statistically speaking, the Mets aren’t the worst team in baseball. Between team batting average, on-base percentage, total runs, home runs, slugging percentage, ERA, batting average against, and WHIP, there isn’t a single statistic where the Mets rank outside the top-25 in baseball. Albeit, the Mets don’t rank particularly well in any of these statistics aside from batting average against (.231, 7th in MLB), but they are far from the worst team in baseball.
The Mets have been worse of late, though. The team has gone 2-8 in its last 10 games. Only the White Sox (1-9 in their last 10) have a worse record over that span.
