By Jorge Arangure Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 4, 2006

BALTIMORE, Aug. 3 -- After almost seven months of rejection, the Baltimore Orioles finally found a taker for catcher-designated hitter-failed first baseman Javy Lopez. The Orioles have a tentative deal to send Lopez and cash considerations to the Boston Red Sox for a mid-level prospect, according to one high-ranking baseball official.

According to a team source, the Orioles will send $1 million of the $2.74 million remaining on Lopez's contract to Boston; the only obstacle to the deal being finalized is that the player the Red Sox are sending back to the Orioles still must pass through waivers. Lopez is expected to join the Red Sox on Friday in Tampa Bay.

Lopez, 35, signed a three-year, $22 million deal before the 2004 season.

According to an Orioles source, the team has tried to trade Lopez, who is hitting .265 with eight home runs, since the offseason. The Red Sox have a need for Lopez; catcher Jason Varitek underwent knee surgery yesterday that is expected to keep him out for at least a month.

Lopez's position on the team became tenuous during the offseason when the Orioles gave catcher Ramon Hernandez a four-year contract. Lopez tried play first base in spring training, but the experiment failed.

Lopez has asked to be traded since the offseason and was upset when the team did not move him by the July 31 deadline. But Lopez passed through waivers this week and the Red Sox pounced once Varitek underwent surgery.

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