Former All-Star Closer Heads To Washington Nationals

 

In 2022, he held opposing batters to a 1.68 ERA and a .174 opponents’ batting average over 48 1/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles, while posting 19 saves in 23 opportunities and making it to the All-Star Game. And after a solid season for two teams in 2024, Jorge Lopez has found himself a free agent deal with the Washington Nationals. 

Free-agent reliever Jorge Lopez in agreement with Nationals, source tells @TheAthletic.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2025

It's a one-year, $3 million deal for the 31-year-old Lopez, who spent this past season with the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs, posting a 2.89 ERA and a 50:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

The nine-year veteran adds experience to the Nats bullpen after they lost veterans Kyle Finnegan, 33, and  Tanner Rainey this offseason. They did add Michael Soroka in free agency. 

The Orioles turned Lopez into a closer in 2022 after his failed career as a starting pitcher saw him post an ugly 6.36 ERA. He has a 4.04 ERA as a reliever. 

Lopez has pitched for a total of seven clubs in the majors -- also spending time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and Miami Marlins.