Outrighted To Triple-A: Jose Lopez
Here's where we'll keep track of the latest players to get outrighted to the minors…
- The Marlins outrighted Jose Lopez to Triple-A, according to MLB.com's transactions page. They had designated the infielder for assignment over the weekend, less than a month after signing him. The 27-year-old has a .188/.219/.260 line this year in 160 plate appearances for the Marlins and their expansion cousins, the Rockies.
Marlins Designate Jose Lopez For Assignment
The Marlins have designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The move will allow Florida to recall outfielder Bryan Petersen.
Lopez, 27, wound up spending less than a month with his new club after signing a minor league deal on June 9th. The Rockies DFA'd the infielder in late May and cut him loose on June 7th.
The veteran owns a career slash line of .262/.294/.393 but has an OPS of just .478 thus far in 2011.
Marlins Sign Jose Lopez
The Marlins have signed Jose Lopez to a minor league contract reports MLB.com's Greg Johns (on Twitter). He had been released by the Rockies earlier this week.
Lopez, 27, hit just .208/.233/.288 in 129 plate appearances for Colorado, which is why they designated him for assignment late last month. The Marlins would only owe Lopez the pro-rated portion of the league minimum if they called him up; the Rockies are on the hook for the rest of his $3.6MM salary.
Rockies Release Jose Lopez
JUNE 7TH: The Rockies officially released Lopez, according to their Twitter page.
MAY 26TH: The Rockies designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding (on Twitter). It has been a busy night for the Rockies, who sent Felipe Paulino to Kansas City earlier this evening.
Lopez, 27, has played second and third base for the Rockies this year, posting a .210/.234/.290 line. His .264/.295/.396 career line reflects his limited on-base skills and modest power. The 2006 All-Star averaged 15 homers per season for the 2006-10 Mariners.
Earlier tonight, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Rockies were looking to add athleticism to their bench. Lopez, who earns $3.6MM this year, was generating minimal trade interest, according to Rosenthal. Jon Heyman of SI.com notes that the Blue Jays and Indians had some interest in Lopez over the winter (Twitter link).
Quick Hits: Gomes, Pudge, Lopez, Diamondbacks
With plenty of baseball still going on, here are some Saturday evening Quick Hits..
- Jonny Gomes is slumping badly for the Reds (.168/.302/.366 coming into today), and ESPN's Buster Olney doubts they'll be patient and wait until the trade deadline to see if he snaps out of it (Twitter link).
- Despite interest from the Giants, Ivan Rodriguez told Nationals GM Mike Rizzo that he wants to stay with the team according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
- Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times wonders if this could be the end of the line for Jose Lopez. The veteran infielder was DFA'd by the Rockies earlier this week.
- The Diamondbacks have managed to turn their bullpen around without spending big bucks, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
- A National League executive told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) that with so many teams are hovering around the .500 mark, many don't know if they're buyers or sellers yet.
Rockies Looking To Improve Bench
The Rockies are dissatisfied with their lack of athleticism and plan to shake up their bench, major-league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The players that are most in jeopardy are infielders Alfredo Amezaga and Jose Lopez while they seem sweet on the idea of promoting Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson.
Lopez has a minor-league option remaining, but his five-plus years of Major League service allow him to reject a demotion and choose free agency. If that happens, Rosenthal writes that he would likely clear waivers and sign a Triple-A contract elsewhere. Lopez is signed to a one-year, $3.6MM contract and sources say that he's generating minimal trade interest.
The versatile Amezaga would also be exposed to waivers if the Rockies tried to demote him to Triple-A.
Rockies Would Listen On Lopez; No Current Talks
The Rockies would listen to trade offers for Jose Lopez, but no talks are going on at the moment, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). Though the Rockies have been impressed with Jonathan Herrera's spring, they would like to see Lopez hit at Coors Field before striking a deal, according to Renck.
The Rockies acquired Lopez from the Mariners for Chaz Roe in December, so he has yet to play an official game for Colorado. The Rockies are looking for a bounce-back year from Lopez, who hit .239/.270/.339 in 622 plate appearances last year. Lopez can play second and third base and will earn $3MM this year.
Quick Hits: Santiago, Eric Young, Giants
We're officially less than a week away from the start of the 2011 season! Here are some news items to tide you over as we start the countdown to another great year of baseball…
- Ramon Santiago "is available in the right deal," an anonymous scout tells Steve Kornacki of MLive.com. The long-time Tigers middle infielder started 78 games last season, posting a .662 OPS in 367 plate appearances. Santiago's competition for the utility job, Danny Worth, "has made a great impression on Jim Leyland," Kornacki writes.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post isn't hearing much "trade buzz" (Twitter link) from scouts about Jose Lopez, contrary to a Ken Rosenthal report from earlier today. Renck reiterated his item from earlier this month about how Eric Young Jr. would draw interest if the Rockies wanted to put him on the trade market.
- Baseball America's Matt Eddy rounds up the week's minor league transactions.
- The Giants "might be the deepest team in baseball," but Dave Cameron of Fangraphs thinks their "big flaw" is Miguel Tejada and Mike Fontenot at short. Cameron suggests San Francisco should try to move one of their excess outfielders for "a real Major League shortstop."
Jose Lopez Drawing Trade Interest
5:42pm: The Rockies "have [an] open mind about dealing" Lopez, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post, though the club feels "no urgency" to make such a move.
5:19pm: The Rockies have received some trade interest from other teams about infielder Jose Lopez, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Lopez is slated to be in the Rockies' second base mix, but if dealt, the job would fall to Ty Wigginton and Jonathan Herrera, Rosenthal notes.
Lopez was dealt to Colorado last December from Seattle, and his name surfaced in trade talks again in February when he was rumored to be part of the package the Rockies had offered the Rangers for Michael Young. Lopez will earn $3.6MM this season, and since Colorado signed Wigginton to a two-year, $8MM deal in December, Wigginton could take priority as the club's top right-handed utility option.
Given Chase Utley's injury woes, the Phillies leap to mind as a team that could be interested in second base help, their recent signing of Luis Castillo notwithstanding. While Lopez is best known as a second baseman, he started 142 games at third for the Mariners last season and fielded his position very well — his UZR/150 was an impressive 7.5. The Marlins may have a hole at third base, though they were "not initiating trade talk about third base options with other clubs" and Lopez's salary is rather high for Florida.
Michael Young Wants Out Of Texas
After hearing his name in countless trade rumors and seeing his infield position filled by Adrian Beltre, Michael Young has "grown disillusioned with his diminished role" on the Rangers and wants out of Texas, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. According to Brown, Texas has told Young that they will push to trade him in the coming days.
The Rockies and Angels remain the primary potential destinations for Young. Any trade would have to include salary relief, as he's owed $48MM over the next three years. Young would likely slot in as the everyday second baseman in Colorado or the everyday third baseman in LA, though Texas would probably prefer to avoid dealing him within the division. We heard yesterday that Jose Lopez would be a part of Colorado's latest offer.
Young's name originally hit the trade rumor circuit back at the Winter Meetings when he was first connected to the Rockies. The longtime Ranger has a lifetime .300/.347/.448 slash line and has played second base, shortstop, and third base regularly at various points throughout his career.