Felipe Lopez has joined the Red Sox for the remainder of the 2010 season, reports Scott Miller of CBSSports.com. Lopez was released by St. Louis on Tuesday and was claimed on waivers by the Padres earlier today. Lopez chose to veto San Diego's offer and instead signed with the Red Sox.
A source tells Miller that one of the reasons that Boston was interested in Lopez was because, as a Type B free agent, the team can get a compensation pick if Lopez signs elsewhere in the winter (provided he turns down Boston's offer of arbitration). As Miller points out, it's odd that Lopez would pass on the chance to play in a pennant race with San Diego, even though he wouldn't have qualified for the Padres' postseason roster anyway.
Kevin Charity
didn’t he sign with the padres?
Ben_Cherington
im so confused! He must be the big bat we have been searching for…pause….not
jwredsox
Yeah because all the impact bats are acquired in September.
Dave_Gershman
Pretty stupid if you ask me. He “vetoed” the Padres? Ridiclous. He is now in a place where there is much less of a chance to make the post-season than if he were on the Padres. Now the Sox will get Ranaudo 2.0.
Even if he didn’t play in the post-season he would still be on eligible to win a ring and a world series so maybe he should get some class and look at the standings.
jwredsox
So he didn’t sign with the Padres. That means he doesn’t have class? He had a choice and maybe the Red Sox promised him playing time where the Padres could only offer a seat on the bench. To suddenly jump to him having no class is quite the leap.
strikethree
Well… he wouldn’t have qualified for the Padres post season roster.
Maybe he just likes Boston better.
johnsilver
I’m all for it.. Anybody that gets Billy Hall on the bench is fine with me.
Drew39K
Class? How is choosing a place you want to play lacking class? Perhaps he feels that he wants to actually earn a ring. I cant imagine that a WS ring would mean a whole lot to you if you signed in September, played maybe two-three games and went home.
Dave_Gershman
Well I’m still in High School so theres still a chance that I end up in that situation. Ask Josh Towers if he’s happy and if he thinks he earned the Yankee ring after he pretty much just hit Ruiz in the face and called it a season.
I just don’t see why Felipe would do this.
To me, Pennant race, post-season pulse and fever and excitement with your teamates even if you aren’t playing, and chance to win a world series > 9 games with the Red Sox to end the season.
jwredsox
Well it is Felipe’s decision. To say he has no class by going to a team that is out of it and turning down a team without a chance to win is hardly classless just because he went big market over small market. Which I assume is what got you mad. If he chose the Jays over the Padres you wouldn’t have called it classless.
Dave_Gershman
Well listen…I was a little too harsh and overacting by saying he has no class…But you are making a lot of sense and I think you made me understand a little bit why I said what I said…Because of the big market. But still in general, it must be something about the West Coast because he has the chance to help the team make it to the post-season and be like a Jonny Gomes type cheerleader during the post-season with the chance to get a ring himself for helping the team clinch the division or wild card. On Boston, he has the chance to be more recognized, and I don’t get why they will play him everyday over Jed Lowrie who in my opinion deserves to play every one of the next 8 or 9 games the Red Sox have.
If Felipe picked the Jays over the Padres, I wouldn’t even know what to think…Would I be happy? Of course. Would I go to Boston and tip my cap to you personally? Sure!
twenty1thirteen
“Well I’m still in High School…”
And all credibility flies out the window.
Calling Lopez classless because he chose one team over another has to be one of the most ludicrous things I have ever read on this site.
Sure, I would much rather play for San Diego than Boston, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to sit on the bench and be ineligible from the postseason.
Dave_Gershman
Who said he will play for the Red Sox? All about the draft picks. What do they do just sit Lowrie?
$491966
After a 4 for 4 performance against the dreaded Yanks and also going yard, I don’t see that happening.
Dave_Gershman
neither so I. So people should quit saying: he wanted to play everyday so he chose the Red Sox.
HerbertAnchovy
Why does his credibility fly out the window because he’s in high school? And you’re more credible why?
While I don’t really agree with his first statement, he’s perfectly entitled to his own opinion.
Sleepykarl
My personal favorite is how Steven Jackson got a ring. Promoted one day, does not pitch, and DFA that night.
Dave_Gershman
What about Ian Kenredy? 1 inning.
dunnetg
He had no chance to make the postseason with any team he played for other than St. Louis, since he was on their roster on August 31st. With just two weeks of games left, I imagine FeLo decided he’d rather have a shot at getting comped some free Patriots tickets rather than watching the Chargers play.
Maybe you were getting at him having a win share of the Padres’ postseason cash bonus? Maybe, but I think he’d have to do something pretty incredible the next two weeks to earn that and there are much likelier heroes than Felipe Lopez. Still, it’s an odd choice.
start_wearing_purple
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s also auditioning for the Sox 25th man slot for next year.
mrsjohnmiltonrocks
Ding ding ding! We have a winner here! It seems more likely that Lopez could stick with the Red Sox more easily than with the Padres. It may be more about NEXT year with him. He doesn’t get to the play in the playoffs anyway.
jb226
If I won a World Series ring with a team I played nine games and zero playoff games for, I would pawn it. It would hold that little value to me. I don’t want a symbol of success that I didn’t earn.
To me, this decision is all about next year. Boston is more likely of the two to offer arbitration, guaranteeing him money if not a spot on a roster for a team that is likely to be in the race deep into next year — especially since they are NOT in it right now. Why pay a player even a dime this year when you can’t possibly win anymore if you have no intention of using either the player or the arbitration compensation next year,? Regardless of what ultimately happens, it’s clear even before Scott Miller mentions it that Boston is at least strongly contemplating arbitration.
P_O_R_Q_U_E
I pretty much agree with everybody. You can’t fairly call a guy classless because he for whatever reason decided not to sign with a team for 10 games or so.
You can, however, call a guy classless based on his awful tattoos, and Felipe Lopez clearly lacks class.
You were right for the wrong reasons.
Dave_Gershman
fair enough
soxin10
Add me to the confused list. He was waived, claimed by the Pads and he vetoes the waiver deal. Since when can a player veto a waiver deal? I thought there were rules in place? Did he have a no waiver clause in his contract?
Ferrariman
if he gets offered Arb, he will accept. he was coming off a 4.5WAR season where he batted .300 at second base with no real “baggage” attached to his name. Now he is coming off a season where he batted .230 with a lazy guy attitude going around his name. he will accept to re-establish value.
EdinsonPickle
I agree, also he’ll be in line for a bigger paycheck than he would be if he went into the FA market. I don’t see the Sox offering arb though. They don’t need a utility IF, they have Lowrie and they could resign Hall also.
Latrey
FLop has had that “head case”, lazy guy attitude since he left Cinncy. He shows up to games and meetings when he feels like it. He mopes in the clubhouse and is a slow growing cancer to every team he lands on. San Diego should be happy he is not with them. The guy is bad news. Boston wants the B level draft picks they’ll get for him when he turns down Arb. That’s it in a nutshell. -Latrey
mrsjohnmiltonrocks
And you know this is fact because you were there?
Ferrariman
exactly.
i love when people act like they know exactly what goes on in the clubhouse.
It_Is_What_It_Is_Ormaybenot
Maybe he isn’t happy with how it went down and wanted to insure he could go home in 2 weeks instead of 4 or 5? He knows Dustin is out and maybe he figures he can show well for 2 weeks to enhance his value?
Kehi7
I’m also confused. When can a player veto the waiver claim? To me, this doesn’t make sense.
SalvadorM
don’t worry guys, some people born stupid we can’t do nothing about,right F.Lopez.
stltiger69
I think the Red Sox’s really out thought themselves on this one. The Red Sox’s signed Lopez who had a lousy year (at the plate and in the locker room) so that they could offer him arbitration and when (or IF) he leaves, the Red Sox’s will get a draft pick? HELLO? Lopez turned down an opportunity to sign with a team that seems playoff bound (San Diego) to come to Boston. Which means he smells more money in Boston and Lopez is not going to be stupid and pass up arbitration when the Red Sox’s offer it. Secondly, what team is going to want to give up a draft pick when you have so many other free agent infielders available in the free agent class of 2011 who are not nuts and will not cost you a draft pick?
My money is the Red Sox’s GM will soon get a good night sleep and wake up in the morning and go, “um, yea, mental note to self, no arbitration for Lopez…”
0bsessions
The signing team doesn’t surrender a pick for a Type B.
stltiger69
your correct, my bad!
jamesmc70
Did no one pay attention to his career? He has proven over and over he has no class. It’s only a matter of time before he quits on another team. Why do you think no one keeps him?
jeffdg
Are they allowed to have an agreement to NOT accept Arbitration?
Ferrariman
no, but they can have an agreement not to OFFER arbitration. although i’m not sure how that applies to this scenario because lopez would most likely accept.
chowdah219
Its all about getting the draft picks IMHO..nothing more
kylew
lol Boston thinks they’re getting draft picks
Flip’s gonna accept arby and Boston will be stuck with a quitter
Rays Fan 33
hey why not isnt hall a free agent plus lowrie can be traded possibly for fielder with others.at least the guy is in the mlb.i see boston making moves this offseason he can be the 2011 version of hall less power but probably cheaper.san diego is a nice city and has by far the most underrated bullpen and rotation in the mlb.i dont know if he would be playing much as they have chemistry right now and need to win games and signing a guy this late would be rough for the infield to get used to.i see him though accepting arb if they offer cuz boston will sign guys to compete next year and will have the injured guys back
Rays Fan 33
hey why not isnt hall a free agent plus lowrie can be traded possibly for fielder with others.at least the guy is in the mlb.i see boston making moves this offseason he can be the 2011 version of hall less power but probably cheaper.san diego is a nice city and has by far the most underrated bullpen and rotation in the mlb.i dont know if he would be playing much as they have chemistry right now and need to win games and signing a guy this late would be rough for the infield to get used to.i see him though accepting arb if they offer cuz boston will sign guys to compete next year and will have the injured guys back
tha_tikkel_knife_yo
i think the redsox should trade all the guys that suck or that they don’t want for prince and felix and johnson and pujols and brice harper
ellisburks
I like the way you think!