ESPN.com – MLB – Orioles close deal with catcher Javy Lopez

You can’t argue with the decision to let Javy go. The Orioles signed him to a three-year deal worth $22.5 million, apparently thinking he’s going to match, or nearly so, what he did in 2003. I don’t think that the Braves expected that.

If you’ve missed any signings… Henry Blanco signed with the Twins, in their continuing efforts to keep the AL Central races interesting. Vinny, of course, wound up back in Colorado, where he will put up an empty 30 HR. Kent Mercker wound up with the Cubs; now watch the Braves replace him with the Cubs’ Dave Veres because their pitching wasn’t superior enough to ours yet.