Who says you can't go home?
Javy Lopez, who spent the first 12 years of his career with the Braves, officially re-signed with the team this weekend when he inked a minor league deal in hopes of being their backup catcher. From the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Lopez hasn't played since being released by Colorado during 2007 spring training, but the Braves think the three-time former All-Star might have enough left to give them a power bat off the bench and to catch once a week or so.
[...]
Wren said Lopez has had private workouts since October with Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia. After Braves officials returned from the Dec. 3-6 Winter Meetings in Nashville, Cadahia told Wren that Lopez had made significant progress and could be worth inviting to training camp.
Of course, there's still the little matter of making the team -- he's been invited to spring training but will compete with no less than three other players (Corky Miller, Brayan Pena and Clint Sammons) for the right to be
Brian McCann's backup. Lopez is already 37 years old, and the fact that he took a year off makes me wonder how much rust has settled in. Then again, it's also possible that the time off was good for Lopez, allowing him time for all of the nagging injuries every veteran has to heal. It worked for Troy Percival, didn't it? At worst, it's a good story, allowing a team icon to retire wearing the same jersey he started with.
