After rejecting a waiver claim from the Padres, Felipe Lopez instead chose to sign in Boston for the final few games of the season. Earlier today, we learned that Lopez opted for his new destination because his ineligibility for the postseason roster wouldn't have let him feel like part of the team in San Diego.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com informs us that the Red Sox will pay Lopez around the same figure he would've made in San Diego (approximately $50,000) to finish out the season, and also points out that there's more value than simply depth for the end of the season.
Lopez could qualify as a Type B free agent, meaning that if the Red Sox choose to offer him arbitration following the season, and he declines, Boston would net a supplemental round pick. Obviously, Lopez's meager slash line of .231/.310/.340 is hardly anything to write home about, but he also signed for a low base salary of just $1MM in 2010.
Offering arbitration would be a low-cost risk that could pay out high dividends in the form of a supplemental round draft pick in 2011. If Lopez decides that he likes his surroundings in Boston and accepts the deal, he won't see a significant raise and the Red Sox can retain him as a utility player. He may have had a poor season, but he's just a year removed from a .310/.383/.427 season between the Diamondbacks and Brewers in which he was worth 3.9 wins above replacement.
I would love to have him around as a super util next season…
He won’t be happy in that role though…I think Scutaro or Lowrie are both perfect for that utility infield role.
Moves like this are why the Red Sox have the best front office. Pick a guy up off the scrap heap that will probably net you a supplemental pick. If he accepts it(and he won’t because he wants playing time) you get a good utility player, for you or for a team you trade him to.
If he rejects it, you get a top 50 draft pick in a deep class.
I really think Lopez rejects arbitration. He clearly wants to play, and the Red Sox have many options at 2B/SS including Pedroia, Scutaro, Lowrie, Navarro, and Iglesias soon enough. Lopez wants to re-establish value, and he won’t get enough at bats in Boston to do so. Even if he accepts arbitration, the salary is non guaranteed and the Red Sox could cut him in ST for 1/6 the value. They also have the financial ability to keep him as injury insurance or in case they deal Lowrie. This move is an absolute no brainer and he will 100% get offered arbitration.
My question is why didn’t the Cards keep him around? 9 days for a draft pick? Kind of absurd to drop him off the roster completely just to make room for a ninth outfielder or something.
probably because they wouldn’t offer him arb. think about it, he was coming off a season where he had about a 4 WAR production at second base and still only managed a 1yr/1million dollar deal. now, he is coming off his worst season since about 2003 and has some baggage attached to his name in the form of having a lazy attitude and injury risk w/ his knees. he would probably get more money if he would accept.
If he accepts arbitration, he’s not likely to get a big bump. He’ll probably be in the 1.3M range next season, and the team will be able to just cut him in camp for a tenth of that. 130k for the potential draft pick is absolutely worth it to any organization.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought arbitration awards are based on two years of statistics. If I’m right, Lopez had a big 2009, and would be awarded more than the million he made this year.
He’s, got to take the $$$ in arbitration. Unless there’s some indication that he wouldn’t accept arb — what could that be?– I can’t see this amounting to much and no sandwich pick. But there’s no harm in trying.
The only way he doesnt accept arbitration this offseason is he rebuilds his stock in the next 9 games. The guy was cut from the Cardinals with 9 games to go in the season, that should send up serious red flags about clubhouse chemistry to other GM’s. I agree with Ferrariman that with his highest value being last year all he could get is a 1mil 1yr deal, how will he get something better next year?. Arbitration is going to look extremely appealing if he is offered it this offseason.
Also i find it extremely amusing that Red Sox Nation is already spinning a “great signing for a starting SS in 2010” into a great utlity IF signing in 2011. Ask how many GMs think 5 mill a year for a Utility IF is a great contract to have.
“5 mill a year for a Utility IF”
Huh?
Was referring to Scutaro
Ah, then that makes sense . . . if Brian McGahan = Red Sox Nation. Oh, but then later Brian says that (Scutaro becoming a sub) won’t actually happen.
Fangaffes what are you talking about? When did I say Scutaro won’t be a sub? I actually wrote that Scutaro or Lowrie will be in the utility infield role next year. I think a lot of Red Sox fans were opposed to the Scutaro signing, not because of the money but because of the loss of the draft pick. I think the popular pick among Red Sox fans was to bring back Alex Gonzalez, although personally I wasn’t crazy about either guy, but its just a stopgap until Iglesias is ready anyways. I don’t really understand why Scutaro entered the conversation though, and in the future try to make more sense when you write.
Anyways, there is a chance Lopez accepts arbitration, but in that case the Red Sox can simply release him for 1/6 of the deal, and Lopez knows that’s a strong possibility. So the worst case scenario is the Red Sox lose around $400,000, while the payoff is a possible supplemental pick. There is a much better chance he looks to sign a deal worth slightly less for a team that will offer playing time. The guy clearly thinks he is better than he is, and might gamble on his own abilities to get a better deal in 2012.
“I don’t really understand why Scutaro entered the conversation though”
Really? You were the one who brought him up – in BOTH of your previous posts. In the future, try to pay more attention to what you write.
Actually it was suggested by people immediately after the Scutaro deal happened that he could, at some point, end up on the bench as a utility infielder depending on how Iglesias/Lowrie developed, since he’s thrived in the role before.
Of course, it doesn’t make much sense to pay a guy 5M a year to do so. However, you can get a little creative with the thought processes if you’d like. Perhaps he starts in 2010 and 2011 and is the utility guy in 2012. You could say that he’s REALLY making 7M in the first two years and 1M as the utility infielder. You could also say that it’s irrelevant considering his replacement will be making close to the minimum.
Scutaro’s 2012 option is mutual. If the Sox have someone better at SS by then, they can decide to not pick up the team option. If Scutaro picks up the player option, it will be $3M. Acceptable for a super sub.
i guess its a matter of opinion when you have the 2nd highest payroll in your case, and 2nd lowest in my case.
I’ll grant you that. Trying to keep up with the Yankers puts a different perspective on things.
I’ll grant you that. Trying to keep up with the Yankers puts a different perspective on things.
i guess its a matter of opinion when you have the 2nd highest payroll in your case, and 2nd lowest in my case.
Maybe this was covered in another thread, but why was Lopez able to reject the Padres’ claim?
his release made him a FA.