The Rays signed infielder Felipe Lopez to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training, the team announced. ESPNDeportes' Enrique Rojas reports (in Spanish) that Lopez will earn $1MM if he makes the Major League roster and can earn another $1MM in incentives. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reported yesterday that the sides were close to a deal.
Lopez, 30, spent most of last season with the Cardinals, but they released him, partly, because he was late for a game. The Red Sox signed him and, once he was designated a Type B free agent, offered him arbitration. Boston would have obtained a compensatory pick if Lopez had signed a Major League deal elsewhere, but after a season in which he hit just .233/.311/.345, the interest wasn't there. Lopez would clearly have obtained more guaranteed money by accepting Boston's offer of arbitration.
Minor league deal means no comp pick for the Red Sox. Should also lock in the draft order for 2011. I believe the second round won’t start until pick #62. That’s 11 picks later than in 2010.
Depth! Versatility! These are what world champions are made of!
Only if the guy is actually still a decent player.
Hahaha good deal Rays
Well drat, I wanted another draft pick. Oh well. He could actually be a really nice backup for Rodriguez and/or Brignac up the middle.
As a Jays fan, I have to say that I am glad to see the Sox miss out on that pick.
Because all compensation picks become good MLB players right?
This isn’t like football or basketball where your top picks are a guaranteed thing. The more draft picks you can get in the first or second round, the more likely it is you’ll get players who will go on to be good MLB players. Losing that pick means the Red Sox lost at another chance to strike gold.
As a Pats fan, I feel the need to point you towards Terrence Wheatley and Darius Butler.
I figure sandwich round is equivalent to NFL 2nd round.
I know basically nothing about football, so I’m not sure if that’s along the lines of what I was saying or not… ^^;;
Suffice it to say, Wheatley was cut after a few seasons of non-performance, and Butler looks like he may be able to contribute as a 4th or 5th string corner, aka high draft picks are sure things in football either.
But at least you guys get guys like Brady because of great scouting. Bears get guys like Ced Benson, Chris Williams, Mark Columbo, etc.
Cade McNown anyone?
I’m wiling to admit that Brady was at least 95% luck. I mean, if we knew he would be as good as he has been, I think we would have taken him earlier in the draft. I’m more impressed with out 2010 draft class. McCourty, Gronk, Hernandez, Mesko (awesome punter) and to a lesser extent Spikes and Cunningham. Not to mention some late round guys who were able to fill in last year when the D-Line was essentially gone due to injuries. Those top 4 guys all have the potential to be pro-bowlers (although Hernandez may not make it because of Gronk). Hopefully we can come close to this success in the draft this April, we’d be set for the next 3-5 years. Just really need to beef up both lines and add an OLB, and with 6 picks in the first 3 rounds, that should be very manageable.
Well said
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Red Sox file a grievance if Lopez makes the opening day roster.
… because Lopez agreed to a minor league deal?
This is the most nonsensical statement I’ve ever read. And that’s counting my statement above saying the Rays could now DFA Zobrist.
No, it’s not. It’s a loophole in the CBA that has been called out in the past (Shannon Stewart in 2008) as well as Shouse’s minor league deal last year (except he didn’t actually make the Sox opening day roster so it was a moot point).
The Sox have nothing to lose by filing a grievance if it was in fact a deliberate attempt to circumvent the compensatory system. The Sox actually receiving the pick for it would be unprecedented but there’s nothing radicial or ridiculous about the idea that they would file a grievance if Lopez makes their opening day roster.
IMO there will be no grievance filed.
Every Type A and B is signed except Lopez, because no one wants to give this guy a major league contract. Not a strong case for Boston.
There is definitely a possibility an agreement was in place between the Sox and Lopez when he signed with Boston that arb would be offered and turned down. Not something Boston would want coming out in a greivance hearing.
He could be a pretty nice backup!
Adequate sign, maybe even better!
Really thought the Jays would be more of a player for him.. He could have played 3rd base…
he’s one year removed from a .383 OBP.. he could have lead off and lead Jbau play RF…
bup..
Flip is a nightmarish clubhouse guy. Known to be thug-like and not easy to get along with. Late several times during the season. Rules don’t apply to him. Numbers aren’t that great either. It’s like paying a million dollars to give your team the Flip Flu. Use your farm system and save everyone the headache.
Upton will have a calm presence over him
No wonder he can’t keep a job.
Wasn’t Yunel Escobar just like that before he was traded to Toronto?
Peter Gammons fervently trying to find a way to spin this into a positive for the Red Sox…
Andrew Friedman is earning his money this off season. A majority if not all the the acquisition’s I personally liked. Restock the farm system and spent his MLB money wisely. The Ramirez Damon has a very good chance of working. The Rays just added two more professional, calculated at bats. Then you substact your instant out in Carlos Pena. And I think you got a chance to be has good as last year. May not be good enough, but enough for Damon and Ramirez to terrorize the Yankees. Both career killers versus the evil empire.
The Rays defense will not be as good. I might not be the most knowledgeable or up to date with these “new” stats, but I would imagine Damon would have a really bad UZR in left field which I think anything minus is awful
Not a Yankee hater or Rays fan.
There has to have been an agreement to turn down arbitration in place, as Lopez would’ve been an idiot to turn down arbitration and the Red Sox even bigger idiots for signing the guy.
There’s clearly no case for a grievance anyway, as Lopez wasn’t likely to get a Major League deal. Players who flat out suck like Lopez don’t deserve Major League deals.