Mets' Jorge Lopez designated for assignment after tossing glove into stands, postgame comments

A day after making headlines by using some choice words in his postgame interview following his ejection in the Mets' 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Jorge Lopez has been designated for assignment.

Left-handed reliever Danny Young has been called up to take his spot in the bullpen.

Manager Carlos Mendoza spoke about the decision to DFA Lopez before Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, saying Lopez was "respectful" of the decision but that "he didn't say much."

“We have standards here and I told you guys yesterday that behaviors like that we weren’t going to tolerate that. So, that’s why we made the decision, we addressed it," he said.

After the game, in which Lopez was ejected by third base umpire Ramon De Jesus and threw his glove into the stands in frustration before leaving the field, he was asked by SNY Mets reporter Steve Gelbs if, looking back on it, he regretted throwing his glove into the stands -- something that Mendoza called "not acceptable."

On Thursday, the manager added, "When you’re not playing well, guys will show emotions. There’s frustrations, but there’s a fine line and yesterday we went over the line and we’re not going to tolerate that."

However, Lopez showed no remorse after the fact on Wednesday, saying, "No. I don't regret it."

After that is where things became a bit confusing. Lopez, a non-native English speaker, continued his response and either said he looks like the worst teammate probably in the whole league after his outburst, or that he's on the worst team probably in the whole league (right after saying he doesn't regret his actions on the field).

Still, Gelbs asked Lopez to clarify his comments later on by saying, "Just to clarify what you said just because I didn't fully understand, did you say that I'm on the worst team? Is that what you had said?"

His response: "Yeah, probably. It looks like."

Lopez later attempted to clarify his comments on his Instagram page on Thursday morning. The reliever wrote "Who ever hear me I said teammate and what I said on the situation I been the worst teammate thanks media for make it worse."

On Thursday evening, Lopez posted a statement in Spanish and English on his Instagram that apologized for his action and clarified his postgame comments.

“First and foremost, I apologize to my teammates, coaches, fans and front office,” the statement began. “I feel that I let them down yesterday, both on and off the field. I also want to clarify my post-game remarks, because I had no intention of disparaging the New York Mets organization.

“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.’ 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.”

On Thursday, Mendoza said he was “not going to get into the details of the timing whether it was the field or the interview” that led to the decision to DFA the reliever, but did confirm that he and president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with Lopez before the pitcher spoke to reporters in the Mets’ clubhouse.

The manager declined to answer if the club had made a decision or communicated that decision about designating Lopez before he spoke from his locker.

Mendoza said he wasn't happy with Lopez's comments to the media, but he wants to move on from them.

Prior to being DFA'd Lopez had pitched to a 3.76 ERA in 28 appearances.

"This guy took the baseball every time we asked him," Mendoza said of Lopez. "He was one of those where he was always available. This was more like we have standards here and yesterday was one of those where we felt like we needed to do something."