Felipe Lopez Declines Arbitration, Red Sox In Line For Another Pick

by Ben Buchanan on Nov 30, 2010 12:54 PM EST in News

While the Red Sox would likely have been alright with having Felipe Lopez act as a cheap backup infielder, the news from Rob Bradford that the Type-B free agent has declined arbitration has to be welcome. With Lopez having declined arbitration, the Red Sox will receive a supplemental draft pick sandwiched between the first and second rounds when he signs with another team.

Lopez was acquired towards the end of the 2010 season, likely for this express purpose. As a Type-B free agent, Lopez doesn't project to lose any market value due to the need for pick compensation. Since he wasn't likely to receive much playing time with Jed Lowrie, Marco Scutaro, and Dustin Pedroia already on the roster, the only incentive for Lopez to stay with the Red Sox would be his desire to stick with a winning team.

The Red Sox already have two first round and one supplemental round draft pick due to compensation from Victor Martinez' signing with the Tigers. If the Red Sox sign a Type-A free agent like Jayson Werth, they will have to give up their own first round pick.

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Genius.

Definitely had a pre-arranged deal with him (as many suspected).

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by alskor on Nov 30, 2010 1:25 PM EST reply actions

yeah

there is no chance that he turned down signing with a playoff contender to sign with the out-of-contention Sox for 5 or so games and then leave without a little sweetening of the pot or something.

The question now is, after the attitude problems and the year he had last year, does he get a major league contract next year? I’d guess probably, just because the middle infield options are so bad, but it is a question.

by wolf9309 on Nov 30, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure he will get a contract offer

Great move by Theo and his crew.

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by radiohix on Nov 30, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

What was the cost for the Lopez sandwich pick?

Was it only really $50k?

by went9 on Nov 30, 2010 6:45 PM EST reply actions

Was only in Boston for probably less than a 16th of the season.

$1,000,000 contract

Yup

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by Ben Buchanan on Nov 30, 2010 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

though there was some sort of mystery option in there

possible that there’s also a buyout. I know it was a club option.

by wolf9309 on Nov 30, 2010 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks Ben. I was just now going through the math.

The season is based on a 184 pay days.
Lopez was signed Sept 25th and on the team for only 10 days.
$1m/184*10days= $54,348
Incredible move by the FO for a first round sandwich pick in a deep draft the year before slot money goes hard.
Like Alskor already said…Genius.

Thank you Mr Lopez.

Let’s hope the pick has the quality of a 2010 Bryce Brentz or an Anthony Ranaudo or even a 2005 Clay Buchholz or Jed Lowrie supplemental pick.

by went9 on Nov 30, 2010 9:33 PM EST reply actions

Wow, that is pretty amazing.

The Cards couldn’t keep him for another 10 days?

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by Frederick0220 on Dec 2, 2010 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

I think actually even less than that

IIRC he cleared waivers and was outright released, so the Sox were only on the hook for the pro-rated portion of league minimum.
so 400,000/184*10= $21,739.13

cheap draft pick if there was no option buyout.

by wolf9309 on Dec 2, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions