Versatile Lopez might bat leadoff for D-Backs

Before the 1997 expansion draft, the Diamondbacks made a splash by signing free agent Jay Bell, who became a cornerstone of the franchise in its early success. The numbers say newcomer Felipe Lopez is a very similar player.

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Lopez has had an almost identical production as Bell in the early portion of his career, with an almost identical background – each was the eighth player taken in the June draft out of a Florida high school.

Lopez plugs an immediate hole at second base for the D-Backs, who finished two games out of first place in the NL West last season.

“He is a great fit for our club,” D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes said.

“He can do a lot to complement our roster – defensively, as a base runner, offensively. He can probably hit at the top of the order.”

Lopez, who passed a physical as the last step toward signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract Friday, received several offers at the winter meeting, agent Scott Boras said, but saw the D-Backs as a top option.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” Lopez said. “This team is young and has a lot of positive stuff going on. It’s an exciting day for me and my family. I just want to win. That’s the main goal.”

A .262 career hitter, Lopez had his best season as Cincinnati’s starting shortstop in 2005, when he won the NL Silver Slugger Award by hitting .291 with 34 doubles, 23 home runs and 85 RBIs.

He had less success after being traded to Washington in 2006, going from a severe hitters’ park in Cincinnati to a severe pitchers’ park, at RFK Stadium, and eventually was phased out by the Nationals, being released last July.

Lopez rebounded to hit .385 with St. Louis in the final two months of 2008, padding his average by going 16-for-31 against the D-Backs. Only Manny Ramirez (.396) had a higher average in the NL the last two months.

“I wasn’t getting a lot of playing time over there in Washington,” Lopez said .

“They are a new franchise, and they are still trying to figure things out. I was not the right fit for that team. It was a good thing for the club to let me go.

“They were kind of holding me back.”

Lopez has been a versatile option during his eight seasons. He has played second base, shortstop and third base and both corner outfield spots, and has hit in all nine positions in the order.

“He gives me an option at leadoff,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Stephen Drew had a career year last season when he spent the second half of the season leading off, but the D-Backs believe he projects as more of a middle-of-the-order hitter.

“Whether I move Stephen down to the '3’ spot … I can hit (Lopez) just about anywhere. I’m excited more than anybody to get a player of his caliber,” Melvin said.

“He’s as athletic a guy as you can find. At the beginning of the winter meetings, I didn’t think this type of player would be available for us.”

Lopez, 28, will take over at second base for Orlando Hudson, whose market has yet to develop.