O's Close to Getting Javy
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1691816

NEW YORK -- Javy Lopez is on the verge of becoming the latest addition to the Baltimore Orioles' rebuilding program.

The free-agent catcher and Baltimore were close to agreement Sunday night on a three-year deal worth about $23 million. The team hopes to finalize the deal Monday.

"We've had ongoing discussions with Baltimore since the winter meetings," Lopez's agent, Chuck Berry said. "They've been productive. They're hopeful of working out an agreement in the near future."

Baltimore already has added shortstop Miguel Tejada. The 2002 AL MVP agreed Dec. 14 to a $72 million, six-year contract.

"It's very close, but it's not completely done yet," Orioles spokesman Bill Stetka said. "We would hope to have an announcement in the morning."

Baltimore also has been speaking with the agents of two other prominent free agents: catcher Ivan Rodriguez and outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.

Lopez, 33, hit .328 last season for the Atlanta with 43 homers and 109 RBIs, both career highs. It was his best year since 1998, when he hit .284 with 34 homers and 106 RBIs.

But the cost-cutting Braves decided not to re-sign him and didn't offer salary arbitration Dec. 7, meaning he couldn't re-sign with them until May 1.

Baltimore has finished fourth in the AL East for six straight seasons behind the New York Yankees, Boston and Toronto.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Dec21.html

Signed and overpaid.

Dangit, i was really hoping that he would become a dodger.

I thought Pudge was going to Baltimore. So who is left to pay for an overpaid catcher? The Cubs?

I heard Pudge pissed off the Orioles by going public with details of the negotiations and they said scewum. Anyway Lopez is a upgrade bigtime. I'm still hoping for Guerrero and some pitching. Then at least we may have a chance to compete in this tough division.....oh I almost forgot, Yankees suck.:D

Apparently one of Rob Neyer's recent columns said that he thinks the Yankees and Red Sox could have a tough time winning even 90 games because of the improvments the Orioles and Blue Jays have made this year. Sounds alright to me :D

Got a lot of respect for the Jays. They have accomplished a lot with very little relatively.

Hell I could care less if we overpaid, this is like the first time in 10 years we've gotten 2 GOOD free agents. :D.

I think he's getting Segui like money. Whats Segui played, like 10 games the last 2 years. We have to get more production than that from him. Overpaid is subjective, if he produces, then I have no problem paying slightly more than others think he's worth. We need talent and now. I'm tired of coming in fourh place every year.I think we need to overpay a couple of more players and win dammit.

Being that the Jays are my team, I can only hope that these signings for Baltimore turn them into the Texas Rangers. Huge salaries, but can't put in a team effort or pitch their way out of a wet paper bag for the life of them.

And then, the Red Sox and Yankees all get food poisoning and have to forfeit 1/3 of their games.

If these work out, I like our chances of beating TB for first in the division. If they don't, looks like a good battle for third with the O's. :)

I haven't done the math, but I don't think the O's salary will approach that of the Yakees or Sox. They have a couple big aquisitions this off season, but still have a young low paid team overall. Of course low paid is funny when you are talking million dollar salarys but you know what I mean.
I'm HOPING for a championship, but realistically you can't tell how a team with new faces will come together untill well into the season.
Anyway, heres hoping the Jays and O's finish on top of the stinking Yankees and BoSox.

Lopez had struggled the previous 3 years before this past one. I'm hoping he plays as well for the O's as he did last year for the Braves.

Tough luck though. Pitching wins championships and theirs still sucks. The baseball season is more fun with the O's with a good team rather than the shithouse they have been fielding. It is no fun to talk smack when they totally blow.

Javy is a good pickup for the O's. The Braves will miss him.... He's been my favorite player since he came up with them and it's going to be so strange not seeing him in a Braves uniform.

Overpaid? No, not at all. With the year he had last year he deserves that money. I hope he continues to play well.