Diamondbacks sign 2B Lopez

Dec 12, 2008 - 7:42 PM PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent second baseman Felipe Lopez to a one-year contract Friday.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but SI.com reported the contract is worth $3.5 million.

Lopez will fill the void left by Orlando Hudson, who is testing the free-agent market.

"We feel that Felipe fits our club well," Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes. "He is a switch-hitter with an ability to impact the game with power, speed and defense."

The 28-year-old Lopez batted .283 with six home runs and 46 RBI in 143 games last season, when he signed on with St. Louis after being released by Washington at the end of July.

Plagued by inconsistency after being traded to Washington in July 2006, Lopez provided a spark for St. Louis over the season's final two months, hitting .385 with a .426 on-base percentage in 156 at-bats.

Lopez had his best season in 2005, batting .291 with 23 home runs and 85 RBI for the Cincinnati Reds. His production has fallen off since, however, as he has just 26 home runs and 148 RBI over the past three seasons.

He is the second infielder inked by the Diamondbacks this week. The club re-signed utility man Augie Ojeda to a one-year contract Wednesday.