Mets continue to fill bullpen with addition of Jorge Lopez, reports say
The Mets' bullpen overhaul continued late Thursday night.
Right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez will be joining the Mets on a one-year, $2 million deal. The agreement was first reported by GFR Media's Carlos Rosa with ESPN's Jeff Passan providing financials.
The 30-year-old spent the 2023 season with three separate teams — the Twins, Marlins and Orioles — while notching a 6-2 record with a 5.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 59 innings.
The Mets will be hoping that Lopez can return to the form he showcased in 2022 when he earned an All-Star selection with the Orioles before being traded to the Twins. Across 67 games in 2022, Lopez posted a 2.54 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 71 innings and a 1.18 WHIP.
Lopez broke into the league after being drafted by the Brewers in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. His debut came in 2015 after new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns had taken over as Brewers general manager.
Lopez, whose two fastballs average over 96 mph, has also made 58 career starts, including a career-high 25 as a member of the Orioles in 2021. Opponents will also have to account for a slider, curveball and changeup against Lopez.
"I think there's so much volatility in bullpens in general," Stearns said on Monday. "I do think we need to give ourselves some options there. We will fill out a quality bullpen by the time we get to Opening Day, and it's probably going to take a lot of different types of transactions that get us there."
The addition of Lopez continues an eventful stretch for Stearns filling the Mets' bullpen. The Mets signed right-hander Michael Tonkin on Wednesday and right-hander Austin Adams last week.
The Mets also drafted Justin Slaten from the Rangers during the Rule 5 Draft before sending him to the Red Sox in exchange for left-handed prospect Ryan Ammans, who was drafted in the 10th round out of Clemson in this past year's draft.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Reliever Jorge Lopez agrees to one-year deal, reports say
