On January 11, the Nationals officially signed Jorge Lopez, who had a strong comeback season in 2024 after major issues both professionally and personally in 2023. It’s a one-year, $3MM deal for Lopez, who may compete for the Nationals’ closer job heading into the 2025 regular season.
A Look at Lopez
The 2023 campaign was a nightmarish one for Jorge Lopez, who struggled with personal problems and owned an ERA north of 5.00 between the Twins, Marlins, and Orioles. Lopez, a 2022 AL All-Star, was at one point a dominant closer, shutting down 19 games for the O’s in 2022 with a 1.68 ERA.
However, the veteran pitcher had to settle on a one-year deal with the Mets last winter.
His numbers with the Mets were, overall, adequate. A 3.76 ERA, although Lopez failed to average a strikeout per inning (19 over 26.1 IP).
However, Lopez’s tenure as a Met ended in late May after an ejection against the Dodgers, and then threw his glove into the crowd.
Lopez then made comments that he said were taken out of context, believed to be him saying he was on the “worst team” in the Majors.
Lopez then joined the Cubs and pitched well for Chicago (NL). He struck out 31 over 26.2 IP, owned a respectable 2.03 ERA, and notched two saves. The 31-year-old slotted in briefly as Cubs’ closer, before giving way to Porter Hodge.
A former starter with the Royals and Orioles, Lopez has a unique arsenal for a reliever, in that he has five weapons (sinker, four-seamer, curve, change, slider) to work with. And, Lopez used all at least 10% of the time in 2024.
The new National has a hard, mid-90s two-seamer with sink that generates a good amount of ground balls. Last season. Lopez had a 51.4% GB%.
His slider, which batters hit .091 off of last season, has above-average horizontal movement. Which, means Lopez can get his slider to run away from right-handers more effectively, making it a true out pitch.
The Nationals officially confirmed the signing of Jorge Lopez. Washington DFA’d reliever Amos Willingham as a corresponding move.
Analysis
After what Lopez went through in 2023 personally and the stuff he showed two years ago, I tabbed him one of the more underrated signings of last year’s offseason. And while Lopez had his moments last season, the 31-year-old did, in fact, bounce back.
Now, he’ll join a Nationals team in an interesting spot. Washington has made several notable moves to improve their standing in the National League, adding Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell to beef up their lineup, plus starters Michael Soroka and Trevor Williams (re-signed). However, the Nationals don’t have a set closer heading into 2025.
Kyle Finnegan, a NL All-Star in 2024, was the team’s closer last season. However, Washington non-tendered him this past November. Meaning, Lopez, as of now, is a strong saves candidate in the nation’s capital.
However, watch for Zach Brzykcy. Brzykcy put up eye-popping numbers in the Minors, with 224 career MiLB strikeouts over 159 frames. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut late last season and looked impressive despite the poor numbers, thanks in large part to a hard curveball with depth and a carrying four-seamer.