Phillies sign Rodrigo Lopez
The Phillies have signed 37-year-old right-handed pitcher Rodrigo Lopez to a minor league contract, reports MLB Trade Rumors through a Mexican baseball magazine, Puro Beisbol.
The veteran hurler has spent 11 injury-plagued years in the pros, twice leading the league in losses (18, 16) and earned runs (124, 111) in 2006 and 2010 (He also led in home runs allowed in 2010 with 37). In March 2009, the Phillies signed him to fill a spot starting position. He was released that September.
The Phillies were briefly linked to another right-handed veteran reliever, Javier Vazquez, in the past week, but general manager Ruben Amaro downplayed the seriousness of their pursuit.
Lopez has spent most of his time in the minor leagues, appearing in just over six innings for the Cubs in all of last year and amassing a 5.68 ERA.
