The Red Sox' plan with Felipe Lopez appears to have worked just fine.
According to WEEI.com, Lopez, a Type B free agent, will decline arbitration with the team, thus handing the Sox a draft pick in the supplemental round if and when he signs elsewhere.
The move does not come as a surprising one. Lopez was signed late in the year after his rocky season in St. Louis ended with his relase. The Red Sox had him pegged as a ranked free agent and basically wanted the draft pick once Lopez declined arbitration and moved on.
The 30-year-old hit .267 with a home run in four games for Boston down the stretch.
In addition to the sandwich round pick gained from Lopez's presumed departure, the Sox have also netted a first-round pick and another supplemental pick from Detroit, courtesy of the Victor Martinez signing.
