Rockies cut ties with catcher Lopez

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Catcher Javy Lopez, who had been competing to make Colorado's opening-day roster, was released Monday by the Rockies.

Lopez, MVP of the 1996 NL Championship Series with Atlanta, had agreed in January to a $750,000, one-year contract that wasn't guaranteed. He will receive 30 days' termination pay: $122,951.

Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said the team wanted to release Lopez early enough in spring training to give him an opportunity to catch on somewhere else. Lopez said last month he preferred not to become a DH in the AL.

Lopez had been competing with veteran Yorvit Torrealba and prospect Chris Iannetta.

Lopez broke in with Atlanta in 1992 and played in two World Series with the Braves. He has a .287 career batting average with 267 doubles, 260 homers and 864 RBI.

In other moves, the Rockies optioned infielders Jonathan Herrera and Jayson Nix, and outfielder Jeff Salazar to the minors. Infielders Joe Koshansky and Ian Stewart, and outfielders Sean Barker, Matt Miller, and Seth Smith, were all reassigned to minor league camp.