Another F-Lop Post

by Satchel Price on Feb 5, 2010 2:13 PM EST

On Wednesday, I wrote about how Felipe Lopez wasn't getting enough attention in comparison to his positional peer, Orlando Hudson. Well, as pretty much everyone knows, yesterday the Twins made an absolutely excellent deal to sign Hudson for $5M over one year.

Now, I'm not going to talk about that signing. Low relative price, consistently solid player, fits absolutely perfectly into their roster's needs. It's your basic good one-year free agent signing.

Rather, I'd like to ask the question: Why the hell does nobody like Felipe Lopez?

A slightly above average defensive second baseman with legitimate offensive upside who's coming off of the second 4.6 WAR season of his career. His reputation doesn't come close to that of Hudson so he has not garnered nearly the same attention.

Now that Hudson has signed for $5M ~~plus incentives~~ (I knew that) on a one-year deal, what is Lopez going to ask for? Something similar to what Xavier Nady signed for (one-year, $3.3M plus incentives)? Because at something slightly less than the bargain price that Hudson signed for, Lopez could very well make Hudson look like an overpayment.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

As a White Sox fan, I was happy they settled for Hudson

I was afraid they would either sign Lopez to a mutli-year deal or trade for Uggla

by joewho112 on Feb 5, 2010 2:15 PM EST reply actions

I am a fan too but...

I still wouldn’t be happy, they signed a good second baseman. I would’ve been happy if they didn’t sign or trade for anyone at all.

by sal007 on Feb 6, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

it's about his effort

MLB teams can be slow-moving animals sometimes, and in the past, there have been questions about Lopez’ motivation and effort (see: released twice).

That said, I’d love for the Cards to pick him up at or below Hudson’s price. :)

I write a Cardinals blog, Pitchers Hit Eighth.

by Pitchers Hit Eighth on Feb 5, 2010 2:16 PM EST reply actions

yeah

i’ve been barking up this tree for a while. for $3MM he’s a steal. and he’s versatile enough that he can be an everyday player without one of our current every day guys losing their every day role

"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."

by prophetjohn on Feb 5, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Hudson has signed for $5M with no incentives.

Linky

by Michkin on Feb 5, 2010 4:11 PM EST reply actions

Yeah I was thinking of last year.

Two mistakes in two straight posts. I suck.

If you squint really hard, it almost looks like my name is Satchel Paige.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Feb 5, 2010 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

I have advocated the Cardinals sign him to at least a 1 year deal

Give Freese some time to develop a bit more, and even sign him for multiple years as a utility guy, as he can also spell Skip Schumaker against lefties rather than depending on Julio Lugo (Vomited in my mouth a bit).

Then again, I don’t know if Mozeliak wants to hold the money for the deadline or not, so it is pure speculation at this point. At least the Cardinals have shown interest I believe.

In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)

by Taskmaster on Feb 6, 2010 12:13 AM EST reply actions

Freese really doesn't need more development time IMO

He turns 27 this year. Yeah, different prospects have different age curves, but he’s already entering his statistical prime, and I"d think now is the time to get him full time MLB time.

But then, I still see Lopez as a smart idea, regardless of who he’s replacing.

But then, the money would be better spent on a guy like John Smoltz to solidify Spot #5 and let Garcia get some AAA time.

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it" ~ Mae West

by Blicks on Feb 6, 2010 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Development was the wrong word

He will still get AB’s, but I don’t think he has been able to play much since his injury, so letting him ease into it isn’t a bad idea.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)

by Taskmaster on Feb 6, 2010 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Felipe Lopez

No one likes him because no one in baseball with holes on their team that he can fill understands how baseball works.

by David MVP Eckstein on Feb 6, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions

We don't really know what kind of deal he's looking for at this point.

Last year was the only year of the last four where he was worth more than 1.6 WAR (and the only one of the last three where he was above 0.8). He’s also a Scott Boras client, so it’s very possible Boras was waiting until Hudson was signed to get serious about Lopez. I’d guess his price will start to come back to earth a little now.

"We're just as bad as the old Mets, but this time nobody's laughing"
-Dallas Green

by Stephen Schmidt on Feb 6, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions