Javy Lopez Wants Out of Baltimore...or More Money. Whichever Comes First
According to the Baltimore Sun, Javy Lopez, the Baltimore Orioles Catcher, reportedly either wants an extension or a trade to a team that will let him catch more often (although it looks like San Diego is no longer an option). Word has it that the 35 year old Lopez is seeking an extension somewhere around $24 million for 3 years. Just for reference, Lopez is currently operating under a 3 year, $22.5 million contract he signed 2 years ago. Lopez’s numbers the season before he signed that contract? .328 Average, 43 HR’s, 109 RBI’s, and an OPS of 1.065. Outstanding numbers, especially out of the Catcher position.
Lopez’s numbers last year? .278 average, 15 HR’s, 49 RBI’s, and an OPS of .780. Hmmm…I’m not so sure he’s earned that raise just yet.
Here’s my point: When did it become perfectly acceptable for average to slightly-above-average players to start dictating their terms of employment? Lopez is an aging player at a position that by it's very nature dictates that players at this position age rather poorly, and now he wants a raise from a contract that was signed following a career year?
To put this in perspective, Bengie Molina, who put up numbers eerily similar to Lopez’s 2005 numbers (.295, 15, 69, .782) and is also 4 years younger than Lopez, still has had no luck as he seeks out a 2 year deal in the neighborhood of $12 million. In other words, Molina can’t find a job despite the fact that he is younger, cheaper, and as good (if not better) offensively as Lopez, yet Javy thinks he can demand an extension that will pay him about $8 million a year until he is 38.
Good luck with that one, Javy.
Lopez’s numbers last year? .278 average, 15 HR’s, 49 RBI’s, and an OPS of .780. Hmmm…I’m not so sure he’s earned that raise just yet.
Here’s my point: When did it become perfectly acceptable for average to slightly-above-average players to start dictating their terms of employment? Lopez is an aging player at a position that by it's very nature dictates that players at this position age rather poorly, and now he wants a raise from a contract that was signed following a career year?
To put this in perspective, Bengie Molina, who put up numbers eerily similar to Lopez’s 2005 numbers (.295, 15, 69, .782) and is also 4 years younger than Lopez, still has had no luck as he seeks out a 2 year deal in the neighborhood of $12 million. In other words, Molina can’t find a job despite the fact that he is younger, cheaper, and as good (if not better) offensively as Lopez, yet Javy thinks he can demand an extension that will pay him about $8 million a year until he is 38.
Good luck with that one, Javy.
posted by Pawtucket Pat at 10:30 AM
2 Comments:
Some think the Angels should consider taking Lopez off the Orioles' hands.
I completely agree with you on this one. There's no reason why Lopez should feel he's in a position to negotiate an already high end contract. He had his time, he should enjoy it. There's a reason the Orioles, even thought they overpayed for him when they signed him, only signed him for 3 year. They knew, at the position he plays, his production would start to dwindle and they drafted his contract accordingly.
This was aa lovely blog post
Post a Comment
<< Home