The New York Mets made the decision to cut ties with reliever Jorge López following an incident at Citi Field where he threw his glove into the stands after being ejected. López, who expressed no remorse for his actions, was released by the struggling Mets.
Manager Carlos Mendoza had deemed López's behavior as 'not acceptable' and stated that it would be handled internally. The right-hander's outburst occurred during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he gave up a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani and was subsequently ejected for arguing with an umpire over a checked swing call.
López, who signed a one-year contract with the Mets in December, had a 3.76 ERA and two saves in 28 appearances this season. The 31-year-old pitcher had previously played for three playoff teams last season, showcasing his versatility as both a starter and a closer.
Despite his on-field success, López's actions on Thursday led to his dismissal from the team. The Mets have recalled left-handed pitcher Danny Young from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the roster spot left vacant by López's departure.
While López's emotional outburst may have been a result of the intensity of the game, his actions were deemed inappropriate by the Mets organization. The team now has seven days to trade or release López, or assign him outright to the minors if he goes unclaimed.
As López moves on from the Mets, the team will look to regroup and focus on their upcoming series against the NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The decision to part ways with López underscores the importance of professionalism and sportsmanship in the world of Major League Baseball.
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