The New York Mets have officially cut Jorge Lopez less than 24 hours after his outburst and ejection in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and a fiery interview in which he allegedly called his own team the worst in the league.
Many see the incident as rock bottom for the struggling team, which has been swept four times this May.
Lopez was not on the team roster ahead of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Manager Carlos Mendoza did not clarify whether the DFA on Lopez was due to his comments about the Mets. He explained that the response is based on the standard the franchise sets.
While some think the punishment is warranted, NFL analyst Boomer Esiason believes the front office could have handled things differently.
He believes Mets officials should have been a little more understanding since the Puerto Rican pitcher is currently dealing with his son's health condition. The young Lopez, as Esiason learned, is set to undergo a transplant.
Esiason made the comment a day after he ripped Lopez for his actions on the field and comments against the Mets organization.
The former NFL player said the organization could attack the Lopez problem in other ways.
"Why wouldn't the psychology of the Mets sit down with Jorge López and maybe put him on a 15-day mental health break?" Esiason said in his radio show.
"I'm just saying, it is Mental Health Awareness Month. We can make fun of it, because it's the Mets, and it's a mess and everything else, but there's something serious going on in this young man's life."
He also apologized to Lopez's family for his comments on his actions and wished the player the help he needed.
Lopez clarifies calling the Mets the worst team
Lopez did not reference his problem nor use it as an excuse for his actions.
However, he acknowledged that he misbehaved on Wednesday and apologized to his teammates, fans, and the organization.
He also clarified that he might have been misquoted when discussing the New York Mets.
"During that interview, I spoke candidly about my frustrations with my personal performance and how I felt it made me 'the worst teammate in the entire league,'" he explained in an Instagram post.
"Unfortunately, my efforts to address the media in English created some confusion and generated headlines that do not reflect what I was trying to express. I wish the team the best and hope that God continues to give me strength and guidance in my personal and professional life."
His teammate, Pete Alonso, got his back.
"I feel for him and I hope he's doing OK mentally because I know he's gotten a lot of scrutiny for what people thought he said," Alonso explained.
Lopez is one of the most utilized pitchers in the league right now. However, his usage does not translate to victories, although he is not bad himself when it comes to personal performance.
The New York Mets, who have the highest payroll in the league this season, are fourth in the National League East standings.
Related article: Mets' Jorge Lopez Trade is Next After Pitcher's Meltdown; Describes Team Harshly in Front of Reporters
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