When the Chattanooga Lookouts announced that the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles would play an exbibition game at BellSouth Park on Saturday, April 3, 2004, no one could have known that the popular former-Brave catcher Javy Lopez would be with the Orioles.
Lopez, a splendid hitter and longtime Atlanta Brave, accepted a three-year, $22.5 million deal on Monday. Lopez joins shortstop Miguel Tejada as the new franchise cornerstones expected to lead the Orioles back to competitiveness in the American League East.
Lopez was not offered arbitration by the Braves, who were looking to cut payroll and have rookie Johnny Estrada on the horizon.
The Orioles had been leaning toward Lopez because of his cheaper price tag and offensive prowess. The Orioles finished 10th in the American League in runs scored and 12th in slugging percentage.
Lopez, 33, is coming off a career season. He batted .328 with 43 homers and 109 RBIs in just 129 games. His 42 home runs as a catcher are an MLB record for one season at that position. Lopez also avoided the injuries that plagued him in previous years.
Lopez, a Ponce, Puerto Rico native, has been on the disabled list four times in the past six years, including twice for right knee problems. The contract is contingent on Lopez passing an extensive physical on Tuesday. But he did not spend any time on the disabled list last season.
The Orioles hope Lopez can reach 550 at-bats by splitting time at catcher, designated hitter and even first base. Lopez has performance incentives for 450, 500 and 550 at-bats, although his career high is just 489 in 1996.
Despite a history of injuries, Lopez immediately becomes one of the top offensive catchers in club history. Lack of production from the catcher position has plagued the organization since the retirement of Rick Dempsey.
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The Reds and Orioles played the inaugural game at BellSouth Park in 2000.
This will be the third Major League exhibition game held at BellSouth Park since it opened it 2000. The last game was played in 2002 when the Reds played the Minnesota Twins.
Javy Lopez in happier days with the Atlanta Braves. Click to enlarge photo.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt (file photo)