The Red Sox and Orioles have reached agreement on a trade that will send catcher Javier Lopez to Boston.

The teams have agreed to split the approximately $2.7 million remaining on Lopez's contract. Because the transaction involves a sum of more than $1 million, approval of the commissioner's office is required. That, however, is expected to be a formality, and the teams should receive approval some time today.

The Red Sox will send a minor-league player -- a position player currently on Pawtucket's roster -- to Baltimore for Lopez.

Lopez cleared waivers yesterday -- after the passing of the trade deadline on July 31, players must clear waivers before being traded.

Lopez lost his job as the Orioles' starting catcher when Baltimore signed Ramon Hernandez as a free agent over the winter, and has asked to be traded. The Sox, of course, are in need of another catcher because of the knee injury to Jason Varitek, which should sidelined him at least until early September.

Lopez interests the Sox as more than just a stopgap replacement for Varitek. A right-handed hitter with some power -- he has 260 home runs in his career, which began in 1992 with the Braves -- he also can play first base, and would give the Sox more options in their first-base/third-base/designated-hitter triangle. (Kevin Youkilis, the Sox' regular first baseman, could play third base on occasion with Lopez at first, giving Mike Lowell some time off.) Lopez also would give manager Terry Francona a pinch-hitting option when he is not in the regular lineup.

Ken Huckaby, called up from Pawtucket for last night's game against Cleveland, was designated for assignment after the 7-6 Boston loss, seemingly making the Lopez acquistion imminent.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340

Joe McDonald contributed to this report.