Javier Lopez avoided arbitration with the Red Sox and signed a 1 year contract that more than doubles his 2007 salary:
Quote:
BOSTON (AP) — Lefty specialist Javier Lopez and the Boston Red Sox agreed Friday to an $840,000, one-year contract.
Lopez was 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 40 2-3 innings last season. The 30-year-old had 61 relief appearances for the World Series champions, second on the team to Hideki Okajima, who had 66 appearances.
Lopez, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in June 2006, can earn $20,000 in performance bonuses: $10,000 each for 65 and 70 games. He made $402,500 last year.
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Lefty specialist Javier Lopez and Red Sox agree to $840,000, 1-year deal - USATODAY.com
Does this mean the bullpen is already set for 2008? Timlin, Tavarez and Lopez were all brought back. Papelbon, Okajima and Delcarmen will obviously be back. Snyder is arbitration-eligible. That's 7 guys right there. Plus, it seems likely that Buchholz or Wakefield will start the year in the bullpen.
It's quite possible that the Red Sox will go into 2008 with 23 or 24 of the players from last year's World Series roster. The only defection so far is Eric Gagne (thankfully.) I'm not sure what the situation is with Bobby Kielty.