Diamondbacks - Signed Lopez

Arizona Diamondbacks - Signed 2B Felipe Lopez to a 1-year, $3.5 million contract.

Lopez had an amazing two months with the St. Louis Cardinals that probably saved his career.  Perhaps the now-departed Lenny Harris is such a bad hitting coach that simply getting away from him can actually fix mechanical problems that a player has.

Lopez is the very definition of a stopgap player.  He’ll be OK offensively at 2B and mediocre defensively, but he can hold down the position without being a major drag on team quality, especially when the team doesn’t have the money to do much with the position.  He should never play SS, however, as he’s one of the league’s worst there.

ZiPS Projection - Felipe Lopez (2B)
—————————————————————————————————————

              AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  SB   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS+
—————————————————————————————————————

2009         548  77 149  28   4  10   53  60  93  19 .272 .345 .392   88  
—————————————————————————————————————

Top Offensive Comps:  Ron Oester, Julio Cruz

ODDIBE

Offense %

STAR    15

AVG     36

REP LV  89

OPS+    %       OBP     %       3B      %       Hits    %

>160    0       >.400   2       >10     4       >200    0

>140    0       >.375   15      >5      37      >150    47

>130    0       >.350   48

>120    1       >.325   83      2B      %

>110    7       >.300   98      >45     0

>100    24                      >30     38

>90     50

>80     76

>60     98

BA      %       SLG     %       HR      %       SB      %

>.350   0       >.550   0       >50     0       >70     0

>.325   0       >.500   0       >40     0       >50     0

>.300   11      >.450   8       >30     0       >30     11

>.275   46      >.400   45      >20     2       >10     82

>.250   86      >.350   89      >10     51

(Based on Projected PA)