Colorado gave up a mid-level prospect to get Jose Lopez from Seattle this offseason, avoided arbitration by signing him to a one-year, $3.6 million contract, and released him yesterday after the veteran infielder hit .208 with a .521 OPS in 129 plate appearances.
Lopez was designated for assignment last week and it’s no surprise that he cleared waivers, as no other team was going to claim the $2 million or so left on his deal.
It’s also no surprise that he struggled, as Lopez was horrendous last season while hitting .239 with a .609 OPS in 150 games for the Mariners, although given that the Rockies felt he was worth $3.6 million and a mid-level prospect coming off that awful performance you’d think they might have stuck with him for more than 38 games.
Lopez is still just 27 years old and had back-to-back solid seasons as recently as 2008 and 2009, but he’ll likely have to settle for a minor-league contract and hit his way back to the majors.
