Giants lefty Javier Lopez is interested in pitching again in 2017, as Alex Pavlovic of CSNBayArea.com reports. The 39-year-old had seemed to be a candidate to retire after the year, when his three-year, $13MM contract expires.
“I don’t know what’s next for me,” Lopez said after the Giants were bumped from the postseaon. “I’m a free agent and we’ll see what happens. If I have the opportunity to come back, I’ll welcome that.”
There are several ways to interpret those comments, including that he may only be interested in pitching if he can do so in San Francisco, where he has played since 2010. But it seems fair to expect that Lopez will be open to opportunities with other organizations this winter.
The level of open-market interest in the fourteen-year veteran remains to be seen. He threw only 26 2/3 innings this year despite making 68 appearances, with Giants skipper Bruce Bochy deploying him as perhaps the truest LOOGY in baseball.
Lopez ended the year with a 4.05 ERA, which is his worst mark in San Francisco but really isn’t all that relevant given the unique nature of his usage. More notably, he exhibited some erosion in the strikeout-to-walk department, managing only 15 strikeouts against 15 walks on the year. Though Lopez has succeeded for most of his career with an uninspiring K/BB ratio, he also ended 2016 with a 6.3% swinging strike rate that represented a clear personal low.
Lopez did manage to limit the ninety opposing lefties that he faced to a .208/.315/.312 batting line, and the ability to dominate in that area is the key skill for which he’d be pursued. The 28 righties who stepped into the box against him posted a .348/.464/.522 slash, but Lopez has long carried extreme platoon splits.
I would not have guessed that this guy has 4 world series rings.
Then you haven’t been paying attention.
javier lopez to pitch to only one batter per relief appearance in 2017.
@mets
He has obviously lost arm strength and hand speed over the years. His pitches are lacking depth and hitters don’t seem to be as uncomfortable in the box against him as they once did. Fantastic career playing on four WS championship teams.
Anyone think hes hall of fame worthy i mean 4 titles should be preety worthy
Nah. There are several players who have won more titles than Lopez that are not in HOF and some of them have far more impressive resume than Lopez.
I’m guessing that was a joke. What has Lopez thrown in his career, like 200 innings?
By by
I wouldn’t think it would just be an SF reunion – being from DC he would most likely love to retire a Nat
Give it up Mr Lopez
Unless you can throw 100
Jamie Moyer never threw over 90 in his life (and that was when he debuted for the Cubs), but he pitched until he was nearly 50 years old. As long as Lopez can get LH hitters out in consistent basis, some team will give him a contract. But I think he’s done with the Giants.
Good luck Javy sorry to have to see you go since it appears that you will not be offered a contract with the Giants. I don’t blame you for going after ring number 5!