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It did not take long for veteran relief pitcher Jorge Lopez to find a new home. The 31-year-old was DFA'd by the New York Mets at the end of May after a well-documented blowup on the field. After being ejected following an argument with an umpire, Lopez made his way off the field, tossing his glove into the crowd on his way out.
The former All-Star's actions on the field, as well as a misinterpreted postgame interview, led to his release from the New York Mets. Even though Jorge Lopez has been solid out of the bullpen this season, the Mets front office decided to move forward without him. That being said, it looks like he has already landed on his feet with a new club.
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"Reliever Jorge Lopez has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, league sources tell @PJ_Mooney and me" - @WillSammon
According to MLB insider Patrick Mooney and Will Sammon, Lopez has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs. The veteran reliever will likely make his way to Triple-A Iowa this week and will look to work his way into the Cubs' bullpen sooner rather than later.
The Chicago Cubs sit fourth in the National League Central with a 32-35 record, so it may not be long before Lopez earns a shot on the MLB roster. At this point of the season, the Cubs cannot afford to leave Lopez in the minors if he can prove his effectiveness right away.
Jorge Lopez could find himself in a high-leverage role for the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have postseason aspirations, and signing Lopez to a minor-league deal could help the club achieve that goal. While the former Mets reliever has had limited closing experience in his career, he has racked up 29 saves in his career. He could prove to be a valuable late-inning arm for the Cubs out of the bullpen.
"Jorge Lopez gets his next chance - with the Chicago Cubs. Away from the toxicity of the Mets, he'll probably thrive" - @DanClarkSports
Prior to being DFA'd by the New York Mets, Lopez had been a solid option out of the bullpen. Through 26.1 innings of work this season, Lopez has posted a 1-2 record with a 3.76 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and a pair of saves. If he can crack the Chicago Cubs roster, he could become a valuable addition to the team's bullpen next to the likes of Hector Neris.
