The Chicago White Sox have signed infielder Jose Lopez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte, according to the International League's official transaction page. Lopez was released over the weekend by the Cleveland Indians after passing through waivers unclaimed.
Once considered one of the better young second basemen in the game thanks to impressive power from a traditionally weak offensive spot, Lopez has seen his big league career fall apart over the past three years. The 28-year-old was miserable in his last full-time gig with the Mariners in 2009, and his struggles have continued in part-time roles since then.
Over 224 plate appearances with Cleveland this year, Lopez hit .249/.272/.366 with four homers, numbers that are slightly below replacement-level. He's always crushed Triple-A pitching, though, with a .335/.373/.553 line with 52 doubles and 27 homers in 157 career games at that level across a few seasons.
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