Following days of speculation that the Tampa Bay Rays would sign former All-Star Felipe Lopez to a minor league deal came to fruition on Wednesday when the team made it official. The signing could turn out to be a very valuable one but more importantly for the team, it was a low cost gamble financially, it didn’t cost them any compensation thanks to a loophole.
Leave it to Rays GM Andrew Friedman for finding a loophole in in regards to free agent compensation, which is if a player is designated as a 'Type B' free agent, offered arbitration and declines such and signs a minor league deal, the club losing the player will not receive any compensation.
The Rays signed Lopez to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training where he will likely compete with Elliot Johnson for the utility infielder’s spots. Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com reports that Lopez could net $1 million in guaranteed salary plus a million in performance incentives if he makes the major league roster.
The Red Sox though are just a bit upset because the Rays chose to sign him to a minor league and not a major league deal. After acquiring him last September from the St. Louis Cardinals, the Sox chose to buyout his 2011 option for $15,000 and then offered him arbitration knowing that he would decline and net them a compensatory pick in the draft as he was a ‘Type B’ free agent had he signed a major league deal.
Despite hitting .233 last season between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, Lopez a switch-hitter was an All-Star in 2005 playing for the Cincinnati Reds when hit 23 home runs with 85 RBIs and batted .291 and as well won a National League Silver Slugger Award at shortstop.
Lopez was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first-round (8th overall pick) in the 1998 MLB Draft. In 10 major league seasons playing for Toronto, Cincinnati, Arizona, Washington, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Boston, Lopez career average is .266 with 88 home runs, 428 RBIs, 123 stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .336.
For more info: Tampa Bay Rays, Felipe Lopez
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Comments
Yeah, that showed the Red Sox! I bet next time they'll think twice before signing a Tampa Bay free agent like Carl Crawford...
Yeah, that showed the Red Sox. Next time Tampa Bay has a free agent like Carl Crawford the Sox will think twice before signing him.
Wel then, I'm guessing we'll see him in June.
actually if Lopez is in the majors before the June draft, they still get the pick. read the fine print.
crc, do you have a link for this "fine print"? Everything I've read suggests it doesn't matter if or when Lopez plays for the Rays in 2011, because the Sox won't get a compensatory pick. And this isn't snark or sarcasm, I'm genuinely curious. Thanks.
There is no guarantee they would receive one.
Similar situation happened last year when Boston signed Brian Shouse and the Rays did not get compensation for his signing.
The Rays did not offer arbitration to him.
Not a big loss to the Sox...another player who was clearly 'juiced' in 2005 and now can't hit his way (nor with any power) out of a paper bag. Good luck Rays.
Wow, this move really puts a huge hurt on the Red Sox....NOT!!! Let see, the Sox acquire Carl Crawford and the Rays acquire Lopez, yeah those acquisitions are on the same level.....NOT!! Enjoy fourth or fifth place Tampa Bay.
Althea, where exactly are you getting your information that the Red Sox "are just a bit upset because the Rays chose to sign him to a minor league and not a major league deal"?? Any quotes from Theo Epstein or anyone else in the front office? Anything from Rays execs quoting frustrated or disgruntled Boston staffers? Stop trying to create news and conflict where it doesn't exist. This was a cheap dice roll by Theo, nothing more, nothing less. The draft pick would have been nice, but I'm sure he knew full well that a minor league contract was a possible outcome. And I highly doubt that the Sox view it as foul play on the part of the Rays. If you have evidence to the contrary, cite a specific source.
I’m not creating conflict here, nor am I creating news. It’s all been said. I did not say that the Sox view it as foul play on the part of the Rays, what I said was that a “loophole” created this. I really don’t think that Theo Epstein thought Lopez would even be offered a minor league contract, let alone agree to sign one.
If you take the time to read some of the Boston area sports sites, blogs etc… they have stated that the Sox “are a bit upset” for the way Epstein handled this. Buying out his contract, offering him arbitration knowing that he would decline – to get the supplemental draft pick.
NECN: “The Sox also received some disappointing news when veteran infielder Felipe Lopez, whom they'd acquired last September, signed a minor-league contract with the Rays. The disappointment stemmed from, the Sox -- who offered salary arbitration to Lopez in the hope of receiving a compensatory draft pick when he signed elsewhere -- will not receive a draft choice for him.”
The disappointment stems from the fact that because Lopez signed a minor-league, and not a major-league deal. Epstein was counting on another draft pick. Lopez is the one that agreed to the minor league deal – so in essence he’s the one that stuck it to Epstein.
Don't forget that Epstein plucked him off waivers from St. Louis and chose to sign him to a contract that included an option for 2011... and then the Sox decided to buy him out once they knew he was a 'Type B' free agent and would receive a compensatory draft pick.
Being a Red Sox fan for over forty years I can't think of a more cunning stunt. Man,GM Friedman sure put one over on us. This is such a blow to our collective egos here in Red Sox Nation we might even end our continuous sell-out streak which started on May 15, 2003 and is still going strong. Yep...you sure got us on that one. Oh, by the way, thanks for Carl Crawford - not that you could have afforded him anyway since you have no money because you have no fans and a crummy ball park to boot. But that's ok you can take solace in the fact that you got us on a signing loop hole. That's probably the only thing you'll beat us on the entire 2011 season.
PS: You guys are really going to love Manny's "work ethic!" Which will only be topped by his clubhouse demeanor. Enjoy!
BIG WOO!
Yeah we really stuck it to those Redsox! Take your 15,000 and shove it! You take Crawford and we cost you $15,000! Wait, what?
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