The New York Mets signed former Baltimore Orioles All-Star reliever Jorge Lopez to a one-year deal on Thursday night.
As the Mets attempt to get back to relevance in the National League after a fourth-place finish in the NL East, they are uncovering every stone to find talent.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN:
Right-handed reliever Jorge López and the New York Mets are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Lopez, 30, pitched for three teams last season and with a combined 5.13 ERA. He was great in 2022, with a 2.53 ERA and solid FIP. @crosarosa was on it.
Passan is right. Lopez was dominant in 2022, pitching for the Orioles before being traded to the Minnesota Twins around the trade deadline. He had that sterling ERA over 67 games. He also saved 23 games.
But also to Passan's point, he struggled in 2023, starting the year with the Twins before being traded to the Miami Marlins. He was then let go from Miami and returned to Baltimore. All in all, he was 6-2 in 2023 with that 5.13 ERA.
The Mets will get All-Star closer Edwin Diaz back from injury in 2024 so Lopez won't have the pressure of trying to pitch in the ninth inning for New York. If he's able to return to form, he could find himself in high-leverage situations in other innings though.
In addition to signing Lopez and making a few other minor moves, the Mets have been connected to the top starting pitcher on the free agent market: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They, like the rest of baseball, will be awaiting his decision.
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