The Rays released Lopez on Monday.
The left-hander was removed from the 40-man roster last week and is now on the free-agent market. Lopez made one appearance for the Rays this season but has spent most of the year at Triple-A Durham, where he held a 7.89 ERA and 32:19 K:BB over 29.2 frames.
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Rays' Jose Lopez: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Lopez was designated for assignment Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the addition of Elvin Rodriguez. Lopez had made one appearance for the Rays this season and has struggled at Triple-A Durham, but his gaudy strikeout totals in the minors could draw interest on waivers.
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Rays' Jose Lopez: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Tampa Bay optioned Lopez to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Lopez will head back to the minors after he made his MLB debut in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Rangers, striking out two while allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk over two innings. The Rays will replace Lopez on the 26-man active roster with a fresh arm in right-hander Ryan Thompson, who was called up from Durham in a corresponding move.
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Rays' Jose Lopez: Contract selected
Rotowire
Lopez's contract was selected by the Rays on Saturday.
The 24-year-old lefty was selected by the Padres in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter but was returned to the Rays when he failed to crack San Diego's roster. He hasn't been particularly impressive for Triple-A Durham, posting a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings of work, but he'll get a look at the big-league level for the Rays nonetheless. Luis Patino was optioned in a corresponding move.
