Jorge Lopez Agrees to One-Year, $2 Million Contract with New York Mets

Jorge Lopez has Mets an offer he can’t refuse…

The 30-year-oldPuerto Rican professional baseball pitcher has agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the New York Mets.

Jorge LopezLopez’s hiring adds another reliever to a team that has spent the past week bolstering its organization depth.

Lopez struggled with three teams this year after a career-best 2022 in which he looked the part of a front-line reliever.

With a velocity bump from his move from the rotation to the bullpen, Lopez rode a 98 mph fastball and heavy curveball to a 2.54 ERA. The regression he showed after his midseason trade from the Baltimore Orioles to Minnesota Twins continued into 2023, when the Twins traded him to the Miami Marlins and he later went back to the Orioles without similar success.

Lopez nevertheless remained strong, and the Mets are hopeful he can return to form after posting a 5.95 ERA in 59 innings in 2023 with the three teams. New York, under new president of baseball operations David Stearns, in the past week claimed a pair of catchers (Cooper Hummel, Tyler Heineman) off waivers, signed two pitchers (Kyle Crick, Andre Scrubb) and an infielder (Jose Iglesias) to minor league deals, added another reliever (Michael Tonkin) on a split major league deal, and guaranteed $13 million to starter Luis Severino in hopes of a return to past excellence.

The Mets’ pitching depth going into the winter after a deeply disappointing 75-87 season called for significant additions, and Stearns is attempting to do what he did in Milwaukee, where often-overlooked relievers thrived and turned the Brewers’ bullpen into a weapon.

Lopez rejoins Mets closer Edwin Diaz, his teammate on Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, during which Diaz ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee celebrating a victory over the Dominican Republic. Diaz’s return deepens a bullpen with left-hander Brooks Raley the only other pitcher whose role is clearly defined.

Miami Marlins Acquire Jorge Lopez from Minnesota Twins

Jorge Lopez is migrating south…

The Minnesota Twins have traded the 30-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Dylan Floro in a swap of struggling right-handed relievers on contending teams.

Jorge LopezLopez was an MLB All-Star in 2022 with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to Minnesota at the August trade deadline last year.

The Twins traded pitchers Cade PovichYennier Cano, Juan Nunez and Juan Rojas to Baltimore for Lopez in that deal.

Lopez went 3-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 37 relief appearances for the Twins this season.

He returned from the 15-day injured list earlier this month after stepping away to address his mental health.

Floro is an eight-year big league veteran with a career 3.32 ERA, but the 32-year-old is 3-5 with a 4.54 ERA and seven saves this season.

Floro was a regular out of the bullpen for the 2020 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Twins are 54-50 and lead the AL Central by two games over Cleveland. Miami is 55-48 and in a tight race for one of the NL‘s three wild-card spots.

Apple TV+ Releases First Trailer for Rosie Perez’s Bilingual Drama Series “Now & Then”

Rosie Perez is officially on the case…

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its upcoming bilingual drama series Now & Then, starring the 57-year-old Puerto Rican actress and activist.

Rosie PerezIn addition to Perez, the series also stars Manolo CardonaMarina de Tavira, José María YazpikSoledad Villamil, and Maribel Verdú, among others.

Three of the 8 episodes will be released on May 20 with the remaining episodes dropping weekly every Friday through June 24.

Set in Miami, Now & Then follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after one of them ends up dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining 5 are forced to reunite after a threat puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

Perez portrays Flora, a detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago, who will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Her partner Sullivan (Željko Ivanek) helps to keep Flora from getting into too much trouble.

The six original friends are played during their younger years by Jorge Lopez, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte, and Miranda de la Serna.

Now & Then hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.

Apple TV+ to Premiere First Three Episodes of Rosie Perez’s Bilingual Drama Series “Now and Then” in May

Rosie Perez is embracing the now and then

Apple TV+ has announced plans to release the first three episodes of its bilingual drama series Now and Then, starring the 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress and activist, on May 20.

Rosie PerezThe remaining five episodes of the series will be released individually on Fridays.

Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

Now and ThenIn addition to Perez, the series stars Academy Award nominee Marina de Tavira, José María Yazpik, Maribel VerdúManolo CardonaSoledad Villamil, Emmy winner Željko Ivanek, Jorge LópezAlicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek BernalAlicia SanzJack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.

The series is created by Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira. Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners. Gideon Raff will direct and executive produce.

Bambú Producciones produced for Apple TV+.

Jorge López to Star in the Rom-Com “The Other Zoey”

Jorge López has found his other

The 30-year-old Chilean actor and Elite star has joined the cast of The Other Zoey, the rom-com from Gulfstream Pictures currently in production in North Carolina.

Jorge Lopez

López joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Mallori Johnson, Maggie Thurmon, Gabriella Saraivah and Amalia Yoo.

The actors join an ensemble led by Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux, which also includes Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian.

The film from director Sara Zandieh centers on Zoey Miller (Langford), a bright college student who rejects traditional ideals of love and dating, only to have her entire perspective on romance turned upside down when another student mistakes her for his girlfriend, also named Zoey.

Matt Tabak penned the script for the film, which is being financed by Gulfstream Pictures.

Jorge Lopez to Star in AppleTV+’s Bilingual Thriller Series “Now and Then”

Jorge Lopez is preparing for a thriller of a project…

The 29-year-old Chilean actor has been cast in AppleTV+’s bilingual thriller series Now and Then.

Jorge Lopez

Lopez has been added to a list of cast newcomers that includes Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.

The Spanish and English series hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.

Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

Lopez joins as as Alejandro, a dedicated and athletic young man with a bright future. He’s the glue that holds his group of friends together and always does what is expected without thinking of his own happiness.

Jaziz will appear as Young Ana, a younger version of Ana (Marina de Tavira), a smart and ambitious woman who put her political career on hold to support her husband’s.

Yazbek Bernal plays Young Pedro, a younger version of Pedro (José María Yazpik), a complex politician married to Ana, he feels entangled in a life that doesn’t belong to him.

Sanz will take on Young Sofia, a younger version of Sofia (Maribel Verdú), a strong self-made lawyer who’s life took an unexpected turn 20 years ago and is now hiding too many secrets.

Duarte appears as Young Marcos, a younger version of Marcos (Manolo Cardona), a passionate surgeon who sacrificed his dreams for his family and friends.

de la Serna plays Young Daniela, a younger version of Daniela (Soledad Villamil), an introspective artist who constantly struggles to overcome a traumatic event from her past.

Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners, and the series will be written by Neira and Campos with their team. Bambú Producciones will produce the series for Apple TV+.

Lopez is best known for his first major role in the the Disney Channel Latin American telenovela Soy Luna. He also played Valerio in the Netflix series Elite.

Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Baltimore Orioles

Felix Hernandez has a new deal…

The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to sign the 34-year-old Venezuelan-American veteran professional baseball pitcher, nicknamed “King Félix,” to a minor league contract.

Felix Hernandez

Hernandez won an American League Cy Young Award, two ERA titles and made six MLB All-Star teams over 15 seasons with the Seattle Mariners before becoming a free agent last offseason.

Hernandez signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves and looked sharp during spring training, but he ultimately opted out of the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.

In his most recent big league action, Hernandez went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in 2019. He hasn’t finished with an ERA under 4.00 since 2016, and his last All-Star appearance was in 2015. He has won 169 games and owns a 3.42 career ERA.

Hernandez could earn a rotation spot with the rebuilding Orioles, who have 2019 All-Star left-hander John Means locked in as a starter but not much else. They traded Alex Cobb to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, leaving Keegan AkinDean KremerJorge LopezWade LeBlancThomas Eshelman and Bruce Zimmermann as the only returning players to start at least one game in 2020.

 

Baltimore has also announced it has agreed to minor league deals with infielders Seth Mejias-Brean and Malquin Canelo, right-handers Dusten Knight, Konner Wade and Spenser Watkins, and left-hander LeBlanc.