The Colorado Rockies completed a trade just hours before the tender deadline, acquiring infielder Jose Lopez from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league pitcher Chaz Roe.
Lopez was a prime non-tender candidate for Seattle, meaning he would have become a free agent after midnight,, eastern time. Instead of letting him test the market, Colorado decided to acquire the 27-year-old infielder.
Lopez carried an OPS of .764 and .766 in 2008 and 2009, but suffered from a miserable season in 2010, like many of his Seattle teammates. Last season, Lopez barely managed a .239 batting average and an OPS of .609.
Even with these extremely low numbers, the Rockies are hoping that a change from the pitching friendly Safeco Field in Seattle to Coors Field will help his numbers recover, making him a prime bounceback candidate and giving Lopez a chance at either the starting second baseman role or the utility infield role.
Asst GM Bill Geivett: "We feel like Lopez's power is still in there. Coming to our park will help him.''
Chaz Roe, a right-handed minor league pitcher, was originally a sandwich pick for the Colorado Rockies in the 2005 Amateur Draft, selected 32nd overall. The 24-year-old pitcher was a member of the Triple-A Colorado Springs rotation in 2010, going 9-13 with a 5.98 ERA. Though he still has potential as a major league starter, it was becoming unlikely that Roe would ever make the Colorado roster.