EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Boston agreed in principle to a waiver-wire deal with the Baltimore Orioles yesterday which will send catcher Javy Lopez to the Red Sox for a player to be named later, which figures to be a mid-level prospect. One possibility could be Double-A reliever Edgar Martinez, whom the Sox offered to Baltimore for relief pitcher Latroy Hawkins at the trading deadline.

The 35-year-old, who cleared waivers yesterday, is owed $2.75 million of the $8.5 million he is making this season, the final year on a $22.5 million contract signed with the Orioles before the 2004 season and paid him a total of $8.5 million this season. Baltimore will include $1 million in the deal, forcing the teams to hold off on announcing the deal until today pending approval by the commissioner's office.

It is believed that because Lopez's contract will put the Red Sox further over the luxury tax, which will cost Boston an additional $2.5 million on the transaction.

Lopez is currently hitting .265 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 76 games while serving as a backup to Orioles starting backstop Ramon Hernandez, whom was signed as a free agent before this season. He had asked to be released Tuesday after Baltimore failed to find a new home for him at the trading deadline.

The trade became a necessity when Boston's starting catcher Jason Varitek went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury is expected to sideline the Sox's captain for 4-6 weeks.

Throughout his career, which saw him become a starter with the Altanta Braves in 1994, the right-handed hitting Lopez has hit equally well against right and left-handed pitching. Against righties he totaled a .289 clip, while coming in at .287 vs. southpaws.

Lopez is also traditionally a solid second-half performer, hitting .290 after the All-Star break. He has hit .304 in September.

For his career Lopez is a .290 career hitter, having used a career-best 43-home run year in '03 to garner the sizable contract from the Orioles.

The most intriguing quality that Lopez could potentially bring to the Sox is his vast amount of postseason experience. The catcher has played in 60 playoff games (all with the Braves) hitting .278 with 10 home runs. The three-time All-Star was named the National League Championship Series MVP in '96, after hitting .542 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Defensively, Lopez is considered an accurate thrower on steal attempts, although the velocity on his tosses are often below-average. He does have quick release, and has seemingly rebounded from balky knees in the past. This season he has thrown out four runners in 18 attempts.

He figures to split time with Boston's usual backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who entered last night hitting .186.

FOULKE TAKES NEXT STEP

Sox reliever Keith Foulke, who was a late scratch in his last rehabilitation appearance at Triple A Pawtucket on July 30 because of a bad back, returned to pitch one inning for the PawSox last night, striking out two and walking one in 18 pitches (10 strikes).

Foulke has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 12 with right elbow tendonitis.