Cubs sign Jorge López to a minor league contract, giving the veteran reliever another chance

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:03 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 12, 2024

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have signed Jorge López to a minor league contract, giving the veteran reliever another chance after an abrupt conclusion to his time with the New York Mets.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2024 (507 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The deal was listed on the team’s transactions page.

The 31-year-old López threw his glove into the stands after he was ejected in the eighth inning of New York’s 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 29. López then used a profanity during a bizarre and confusing postgame interview in the Mets’ clubhouse.

New York Mets pitcher Jorge López (52) reacts after Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, hit a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in New York. López will be cut by the struggling Mets after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following his ejection Wednesday at Citi Field. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

López was designated for assignment the following day, and he issued a statement apologizing to teammates, coaches, fans and the front office.

Chicago had dropped 13 of 18 going into Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay. It began the day with a 4.47 bullpen ERA and 14 blown save opportunities.

Héctor Neris was tagged for a season-high four runs in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rays, including Brandon Lowe’s game-ending homer.

López is 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA and two saves in 28 big league appearances this year. He has pitched for six teams while compiling a 23-42 record with a 5.42 ERA and 29 saves in nine years in the majors.

López made the AL All-Star team in 2022, when he went 4-7 with 23 saves and a 2.54 ERA in a total of 67 appearances for Baltimore and Minnesota.