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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http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/04F88F8513BF8131862576D6007C1722?OpenDocument

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.

Another Jose Oquendo.

Sounds good too me, hope they git er done.

lopez is a done deal except for the passing of the physical. This really adds some depth to the team.

The Cardinals signed free-agent utility player Felipe Lopez to a one-year deal, ESPN reported Friday. The club, however, has not confirmed it.

A baseball source told MLB.com that the deal was not complete, but could be struck in the next 24 hours. SI.com reported that the contract is worth $1.75 million plus incentives.

Lopez, 29, is coming off a career year with the D-backs and Brewers, batting a combined .310 with nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 88 runs, along with a career-high .383 on-base percentage in 151 games.

The switch-hitter also played in 43 games with the Cardinals in 2008, batting .385 with four home runs, 21 RBIs and 30 runs after being released by the Nationals earlier in the season.

The Puerto Rico native has played 602 games at shortstop, 300 at second base, 95 at third base, 16 in left field, one in right and one at first base.

Because of his versatility, Lopez can spell Cardinals regulars at second base, shortstop and third base while offering insurance in case David Freese doesn't develop at third or if shortstop Brendan Ryan needs more time to recover from wrist surgery.

The nine-year veteran is a career .269 hitter with 80 home runs, 391 RBIs, 536 runs and 115 stolen bases in 1,024 games with the Blue Jays, Reds, Nationals, Cardinals, D-backs and Brewers.

Pretty good deal!

Now, we just need to bring in one more guy to help the bullpen, IMO.

Someone with setup/backup closer potential.

MATEOBURRITO wrote:Now, we just need to bring in one more guy to help the bullpen, IMO.

Someone with setup/backup closer potential.

I would love to give Springer a look.

Dependable, likes St. Louis, and has a chance to play on a contending team

win win for both

I'm just glad they got someone for the bench and who can play multiple positions. He'll be the 10th starter - moving all around giving some of them breaks. Good move.

I would be all for bringing Springer back, as well.

I thought Springer was a bust?

He didn't seem to do too well in Houston.

Maybe it's just me.

hicard wrote:I thought Springer was a bust?

He didn't seem to do too well in Houston.

Maybe it's just me.

Springer was rock solid for the Cardinals when he came back from Houston.

He was one of our best bullpen guys.

He wanted the chance to return last year but the Cardinals didn't keep the lines of communication open.

He has a child that needs special care from one of the St Louis Childrens hospital and thats one of the biggest reasons he wanted to be back here.

Thats seems to be a BIG problem with our front office.

I didn't know that Rod, and hoping his family
is all ok.

The only times I saw him, it seems he was a
fairly shetty pitcher.....

I take you guys' word though mang!

I'm equally stoked they signed Julio Lugo,
and nobody mentioned that.

"Lopez' ability to hit righthanded may also factor should manager Tony La Russa wish to rest Schumaker against tough lefthanders. The Cardinals also retain veteran infielder Julio Lugo, a righthanded hitter."

The World Series is a good possibility.

John Smoltz

I'm ok with Lopez, even if he has to start at third. I'm not his biggest fan, but Freese is less than a proven everyday player. Lopez would be adequate and probably better than that if he hit second or seventh.