Sports
MLB analyst thinks Mets left Jorge López 'out to dry' after glove-throwing ejection: 'Boggled my mind'
Jorge López’s wild ejection on Wednesday afternoon in Queens, and subsequent comments where he was believed to call his New York Mets the “worst team in probably the whole f—ing MLB,” ultimately led the organization to designate him for assignment.
In short, he was released after his ejection, which included throwing his glove into the stands and having words with the Mets.
López has since tried to clear up his comments to the media in the Mets’ clubhouse after the game, saying on his Instagram Stories that he was talking about himself being the worst teammate.
Jorge López, #52 of the New York Mets, in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on May 16, 2024 in Philadelphia. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
“Who ever hear me I said teammate and what I said on the situation I been the worst teammate,” López wrote, “thanks media for make it worse.”
The bizarre chain of events led to many giving their opinion on the matter, and that included former MLB catcher and current Pittsburgh Pirates analyst Michael McKenry, who ripped the Mets for how they handled the entire situation.
“That really boggled my mind because the way they handled that as an organization was very poor,” McKenry said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic” Thursday. “What I mean is you have a guy [where] Spanish is his second language, and you have no interpreter there. So, you kinda leave him out to dry in the sense of like, he’s going to go with what he knows.
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“The most I learned about Spanish was not the good stuff. So, he’s going to go in a direction that he knows and feels comfortable with. And he’s in an emotional state.”
The 31-year-old López is Puerto Rican, and it is usually custom for Spanish-speaking players to have an interpreter with them to make sure the right things are being said to the media when being questioned.
Now, López is no stranger to this, as he made his big league debut in 2015, and he is with his sixth MLB team. While interpreters are available for players to use during questioning, some players choose to give their answers in English.
It is unknown if the Mets gave López the option to use an interpreter, or if he turned one down before the interview.
McKenry continued by saying, while López’s words may have been taken the wrong way, it does not excuse his actions, which his manager Carlos Mendoza called “unacceptable” after the game.
Jorge Lopez, #52 of the New York Mets, in action against the Detroit Tigers during game one of a double header at Citi Field on April 4, 2024 in New York City. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
“If you know anything about his story, he has some issues off the field. He has a kid that’s going through a lot,” McKenry explained, referring to López’s son awaiting an organ transplant. “So, he’s dealing with more than most people have to. That does not make an excuse to throw your glove into the stands and call out an organization you’re with – he did get DFA’d today.
“So, I think the reality of it is, someone needs to put their arm around this kid, love on him and say, ‘This is not OK.’ And not just throw it to the wind. I feel like that’s what the Mets have been doing over and over again – just throwing guys to the wind.”
The Mets have long been an organization associated with wild happenings on and off the field, so much so that the fan base expects them to happen each year.
However, the aura surrounding the team a couple of seasons ago, when Steve Cohen purchased the team, was completely different. High expectations entered Citi Field when Cohen opened his checkbook and brought in players like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and others to compete for a World Series championship.
New York would win 101 games in 2022, though they would lose to the San Diego Padres at home in the best-of-three wild card round. Still, things were looking up for the Mets.
That was until last season, when they went a surprising 75-87. As a result, Scherzer and Verlander were both traded before the MLB deadline, and the Mets virtually punted on the season despite owning the highest payroll in the league.
As McKenry pointed out, they still have that payroll above the rest of the competition, yet the results are 11 games under .500 at 22-33.
Jorge López, #52 of the New York Mets, in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 29, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“I think they put the cart before the horse,” McKenry said of the Mets. “I think someone that loved the organization and thought they knew best thought they could buy a championship with some older players. It didn’t work out and I think he had to double down, he had to trade off those assets, and lose his high end on all of this.”
Things are not going well for the Mets, and López’s situation is just the latest example of the dysfunction happening in Flushing.
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The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.
The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal.
Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.
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Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.
There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.
It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.
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However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.
Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.
Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.
Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.
Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.
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On the opening night of Mission League basketball action Wednesday, there was a huge upset, one close call and two easy victories.
Loyola, down 16 points going into the fourth quarter, started making threes and stunned Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on the road 72-68. Deuce Newt scored 23 points for the Cubs (10-9). First-year coach Cam Joyce saw his team take a leap in ability when Newt became eligible on Dec. 26 after transferring from Campbell Hall. Randall Sanders added 15 points.
No. 1-ranked Sierra Canyon (14-1) held on for a 50-47 win over St. Francis. The Golden Knights gave the Trailblazers a real scare with a chance to tie at the end of regulation. Maxi Adams made two clutch free throws in the final seconds for Sierra Canyon. Brandon McCoy had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Cherif Millogo scored 14 points for the Golden Knights.
Harvard-Westlake improved to 18-2 with an 84-51 win over Chaminade (18-2). Amir Jones made six threes and had 26 points. Joe Sterling added 21 points and Dominique Bentho had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Crespi (14-6) defeated Bishop Alemany 87-59. Jasiah Williams and Christian Tshina-Nzambi each scored 20 points.
On Friday night, it will be Notre Dame at Sierra Canyon, Harvard-Westlake at Crespi and Chaminade at Loyola.
Arcadia 87, Burroughs 51: Owen Eteuati Edwards scored 23 points and had eight rebounds for Arcadia.
Fairfax 77, Carson 40: Dominick Bowie had 14 points for the Lions.
San Pedro 67, Hamilton 37: Chris Morgan had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Pirates (13-4).
California 105, Saddleback 77: Jair Linares had 26 points for 11-7 California.
Tesoro 78, Capistrano Valley 39: Dean Mika finished with 23 points for 18-3 Tesoro.
St. Monica 67, St. Bernard 58: St. Monica won in overtime. Jordan Ballard scored 20 points for St. Bernard.
Los Alamitos 57, Huntington Beach 47: Sophomore Isaiah Williamson contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds in the Sunset League win.
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A chaotic scene unfolded at Auburn University on Tuesday night as a wild buzzer-beater was waved off well after the Tigers had celebrated on their own court.
With 0.6 seconds remaining and Auburn trailing 90-88, KeShawn Murphy, somehow left wide open, caught an inbounds pass and nailed a long 3-pointer for what was thought to be the game-winner.
However, officials went to the scorer’s table to review the play, which was awfully close.
Auburn Tigers players watch the replay of a possible game-winning shot that was called back as Auburn Tigers take on Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Ultimately, officials ruled that the shot had not gone off in time, ending the Tigers’ celebration and prompting one from Texas A&M.
The officials quickly made themselves public enemy number one and were showered with debris from fans on their way off the court. At least one referee needed his head to be covered.
One fan sitting courtside even turned his back and threw his drink over his shoulder aimed at an official.
“They didn’t say a word. They just said it was no good and ran off the floor. I probably wouldn’t want to talk to me in that moment, anyway,” Auburn head coach Steven Pearl, who took over for his dad, Bruce this season, said after the game. “So, I get why they’d run away from me. Just from the angles that I saw, it looked like it was off his fingers. But that was just, I don’t have all the same angles they have.”
Texas A&M Aggies players celebrate victory as Auburn Tigers take on Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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It is now six losses in their last 10 games for the Tigers after starting 5-1. They lost in the Final Four last year to Florida, who won the national championship over Houston.
Auburn (9-6, 0-2) led 47-37 at halftime and extended the margin to 61-45 with 12:29 remaining.
KeShawn Murphy of the Auburn Tigers reacts after officials ruled that his last-second shot did not beat the shot clock to win the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena on Jan. 6, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
Texas A&M answered with a steady run fueled by outside shooting, taking its first lead at 8:42 when Pop Isaacs buried a 3-pointer. The Aggies followed with back-to-back triples from Isaacs to open a five-point cushion that they would not relinquish, by the skin of their teeth.
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