Cardinals sign Felipe Lopez
Topic News
Posted by MATEOBURRITO on Feb 26, 2010 6:09 pm GMT - 6
St. Louis signed free-agent infielder Felipe Lopez to a one-year deal on Saturday. He worked out with his new team, even taking live batting practice on his first day in uniform. A No. 8 Cardinals jersey awaited him when he arrived at the clubhouse at Roger Dean Stadium. "I didn't want to keep wasting time at my house when I could be here," said Lopez, who also spent the last two months of the 2008 season with the Cardinals. "I've wanted to be here for a long time. I've made a lot of changes, and it's going great so far." FOXSports.com reported that Lopez will receive $1 million guaranteed, with the opportunity to make $1.2 million more in incentive bonuses.
A veteran of nine Major League seasons, Lopez can play several positions. He spent the vast majority of his time at second base in 2009, but more than half of his career appearances have come at shortstop. Lopez has also played third base, outfield and even made one appearance at first base. Manager Tony La Russa and Mozeliak both said that they do not envision Lopez as a challenger to be the Cardinals' everyday third baseman, a job for which David Freese appears to be the leading candidate
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JUPITER, Fla. • The St. Louis Cardinals are close to agreement with free agent
utility player Felipe Lopez on a one-year contract that would offer infield
depth and add a much-needed lefthanded bat, sources close to negotiations
confirmed Friday.
The parties were close enough to a deal Friday night that they had discussed
the possibility of Lopez undergoing a team physical this weekend.
Lopez, 29, has lingered on the free agent market despite hitting .310 with nine
home runs and 57 RBIs in 151 games split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and
Milwaukee Brewers last season.
His flagging market contributed to the switch-hitting Lopez changing
representation to Beverly Hills Sports Council, which represents Cardinals
first baseman Albert Pujols and right fielder Ryan Ludwick.
Talks between the Cardinals and Lopez intensified in the past two days. Manager
Tony La Russa recently allowed that the club could help itself with another
lefthanded bat but stopped short of declaring it a critical need.
Lopez played 43 games with the Cardinals in 2008 following his release by the
Washington Nationals. He hit .385 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in the team’s
unsuccessful chase of the Chicago Cubs. Lopez played every position except
center field and catcher.
The marked-down deal would be for less than a $2 million base plus incentives,
according to a source familiar with talks.
The well-traveled Lopez has averaged 628 plate appearances the last three
seasons but would be hard-pressed to challenge that number with a team that
already projects a regular at every position.
Lopez would offer a degree of insurance for rookie third baseman David Freese
and a righthanded option at second base should La Russa opt for an occasional
platoon with Skip Schumaker. The Cardinals also retain Julio Lugo, a
righthanded hitter who is most adept at second base and shortstop.
Signing Lopez also adds depth if shortstop Brendan Ryan recovers more slowly
than hoped from recent wrist surgery.
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