We’ve spent a lot of time this winter talking about how Johnny Damon took a backseat to Matt Holliday getting his cash with agent Scott Boras. On second thought, at least Damon has been in the car. Free agent infielder Felipe Lopez has been left on the side of the road with his thumb in the air.
Frustrated that he is without a team just days before pitchers and catchers report, Lopez has fired Boras, signing on with Beverly Hills Sports Council, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. It’s hard to argue with Lopez here, who surely thought he had a nice payday coming after the best season of his career. Lopez, who turns 30 in May, batted .310/.383/.427 with nine home runs and 57 RBI with the Diamondbacks and Brewers last season. As I compiled in November, Lopez ranked fourth among impending free agents in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in 2009.
A former first-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1998, Lopez has never really matched the considerable hype attached to him early on, but even if he won’t be paid like a four or five win player at this point, he’s exactly the kind of infielder a team just be investing in. He’s still young and can play a variety of positions without embarrassing himself. Yet we’ve largely seen teams opt for short commitments with veteran infielders.
Placido Polanco - three years, $18 million (Phillies)
Marco Scutaro - two years, $12.5 million (Red Sox)
Orlando Hudson - one year, $5 million (Twins)
Jamey Carroll - two years, $3.85 million (Dodgers)
Juan Uribe - one year, $3.25 million (Giants)
Orlando Cabrera - one year, $3.02 million (Reds)
Alex Gonzalez - one year, $2.75 million (Blue Jays)
Kelly Johnson - one year, $2.35 million (Diamondbacks)
Craig Counsell - one year, $2.1 million (Brewers)
Adam Everett - one year, $1.55 million (Tigers)
Adam Kennedy - one year, $1.25 million (Nationals)
According to Stark, the Cardinals are the only known club to have interest in Lopez. It makes even more sense as a match after Brendan Ryan’s recent wrist surgery, but Lopez may have a few more suitors now that Boras is out of the way.
