"I don't know who you talked to, but maybe they need to communicate. Nobody communicates around here. Everything is a mystery. They are guessing. Nothing is wrong with me. I'm fine."
(Felipe Lopez, via Nationals dot com, 6/27/2008)
Hey O's: You can have him! Too good to be true?
FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal broke the good news earlier today:
The Orioles, desperately seeking a shortstop, have engaged in substantive conversations with the Nationals about a trade for infielder Felipe Lopez, according to major league sources.
The Nationals reportedly are close to signing shortstop Cristian Guzman to a two-year contract extension for an unknown dollar amount and are unlikely to retain Lopez as a free agent after this season.
In return for Lopez, the Nationals likely would receive a marginal minor-league prospect.
Marginal prospect? Bag of Baseballs? Done!
Nope. Not that easy: Nationals dot com hints that Trader Jim is driving up the price:
Washington is believed looking for the best possible deal for Lopez, who is having another disappointing season. His future with the Nationals beyond this season is in doubt.
This is the best possible deal because it's the ONLY possible deal. C'mon, Jimbo, don't f*ck this up!
(Photo of TV set by The Nationals Enquirer Staff)