Per Extra Bases, Javy Lopez is set to become a Red Sox tomorrow. The deal is widely rumored to be sending minor league SP Abe Alvarez to Baltimore, with the Orioles paying a chunk of Lopez’s salary.
This means tonight is the only night that Ken Huckaby gets to bat in a Red Sox uniform, barring any horrific injuries by either Doug Mirabelli or Lopez.
Lopez, known for his offense in the past, is struggling this year in a reduced role, but is still hitting .265/.314/.412 with a .727 OPS. Jason Varitek is at .243/.331/.411 with a .743 OPS. Hopefully, additional playing time gets Lopez over a .800 OPS, as he was in 2004 with Baltimore.
Don’t count out Lopez being on the postseason roster either. He may successfully catch Tim Wakefield, they may opt to have Varitek catch Wakefield, or Wakefield may never return.
Bottom line? We fix our catching conundrum and greatly improve it once Varitek returns from the DL, expected to be September 1st.
