Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Angels acquire catcher Lopez from Cubs

Anaheim sends Rondon, international free-agent pool money to Chicago

ARLINGTON -- The Angels used the remainder of their international free-agent slot money Friday, sending $149,700 and left-handed pitcher Manuel Rondon to the Cubs in exchange for catcher Rafael Lopez.

Lopez, a 2011 16th-round pick out of Florida State, will be assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake. He hit .276 with a .333 on-base percentage and 17 RBIs in 46 games this season for Triple-A Iowa. Lopez had two hits in 11 Major League at-bats for the Cubs last season as a September call-up.

Rondon, a 2012 international free-agent acquisition, was 1-1 with an 8.64 ERA in two starts this season for the Angels' rookie-league affiliate in Arizona.

The Angels sent $879,500 in pool money to the Rangers on Thursday for right-handed pitcher Jason Hoppe, and $239,400 to the Mets for righty Gaither Bumgardner.

Last year, the Angels forfeited the right to spend more than $300,000 on any prospect for the following two international signing periods when they acquired Cuban shortstop Roberto Baldoquin with an $8 million signing bonus.

The Angels entered the international signing period with a bonus pool of $1,968,600 -- the lowest in baseball, because the team finished with a Major League-best 98 wins last season.

Cody Stavenhagen is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Read More: Los Angeles Angels