MLB: Red Sox acquire Orioles' Lopez

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Javy Lopez was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to Boston on Friday, a deal that gives the former All-Star another chance to play and provides the Red Sox a replacement for injured catcher Jason Varitek.

The Orioles sent Lopez and cash to the Red Sox for a player to be named.
ESPN's Duke Castiglione reported Friday that the player to be named is Red Sox outfielder Adam Stern.

However, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays may place a waiver claim on Stern, effectively blocking him from going to Baltimore this season. If a claim is made, the Orioles would get Stern after the season.

Varitek had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday and was expected to immediately begin rehabilitation. The Red Sox have not indicated when their captain might return.

The Red Sox lead the wild-care race and are competing with the New York Yankees for the AL East title. Baltimore is out of contention and didn't have much need for Lopez because Ramon Hernandez is their starting catcher and Jay Gibbons serves as the designated hitter.

"Javy is ecstatic about the opportunity to be a catcher again. That's been the most frustrating thing for him about being in Baltimore," said Lopez's agent, Chuck Berry.

Lopez hoped to be dealt before the non-waiver trade deadline Monday. He then passed through waivers before being traded to Boston.

"This is perfect for him: He gets to play with a team battling for first place and at Fenway Park, which has all that history," Berry said. "It should be a great ballpark for him to hit in, too."

At 35, Lopez is in the final season of a $22.5 million, three-year contract he signed as a free agent with the Orioles in December 2003. He got that deal after hitting .328 with 43 home runs and 109 RBI for Atlanta, his third All-Star season for the Braves.

Lopez is hitting .265 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 279 at-bats. He has caught in only 21 of the Orioles' 109 games as a backup to Hernandez.

"I've got no position on this team. I don't see why they really need me," Lopez said this week. "I'm not meant to play once a week. ... I cannot be happy in this situation. They probably have their plan, and I don't think they're going to keep me like this until the end of the season. They're probably going to do something sooner or later."

It happened Friday.

"We've been looking all year long for a place where Javy could catch," Berry said. "To its credit, Baltimore worked with us on that."

The Orioles signed free-agent catcher Chris Widger to replace Lopez on the roster. Widger began the season with the Chicago White Sox and batted .184 with one home run and seven RBI in 27 games before being released Tuesday.

He has played parts of 10 seasons in the majors, batting .239 with 55 homers and 220 RBI in 604 games.

[Credit: ESPN]

Danny Diamond

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Update: The player said to be named later going to the O's is outfielder Adam Stern (currently at AAA)

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The ROC

Smart move by the red sox, Lopez makes a very good replacement for Varitek. Lopez can hit, catch and is a average runner so it's a smart move.