Despite the efforts of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to hold up the deal, the Red Sox were able to acquire catcher Javier Lopez from the Orioles yesterday.

The Devil Rays -- angered by what they say was tampering by the Red Sox with shortstop Julio Lugo prior to the trade deadline, a charge the Sox adamantly deny -- made known their intention to claim anyone the Sox placed on waivers to send to Baltimore for Lopez. (With the passing of Monday's trade deadline, players must clear waivers prior to being traded.) "We're sorry to mess up the [Orioles' plans]," one Devil Rays employee said, "but this is a [battle] with Boston."

But the Sox and Orioles got around the Devil Rays by agreeing to postpone delivery of Pawtucket outfielder Adam Stern -- the player being sent by the Sox to Baltimore -- until after the season is over and waivers are no longer required for trades. The deal officially was announced as Lopez for a player to be named or cash.

The Red Sox would not comment on who was being sent to Baltimore or whether or not the player is currently on the 40-man roster. However, multiple sources confirmed that Stern is the player headed to Baltimore. The two teams did not discuss sending another player in Stern's place, but have a contingency plan if Stern is injured between now and the end of the regular season.

Lopez, for his part, was delighted the trade went through.

"This is the opportunity I was pretty much looking for from Day One this year, to be on a contending team," Lopez said last night in Tampa prior the Sox' game against the Devil Rays. "(To be on) the Boston Red Sox makes it even better."

"This is perfect for him: He gets to play with a team battling for first place and at Fenway Park, which has all that history," said Lopez's agent, Chuck Berry. "It should be a great ballpark for him to hit in, too."

The Sox needed catching help after Jason Varitek suffered a knee injury earlier this week that required surgery. He is expected to be sidelined until September.

"When Javy became available to us, we were excited," said assistant general manager Jed Hoyer, who spoke on behalf of general manager Theo Epstein. "We weren't going to miss out on that opportunity."

Lopez's acquisition took on added importance after Doug Mirabelli, the backup to Varitek, suffered a twisted left ankle last night in the first inning when making a tag play at the plate on Carl Crawford. He had to leave the game in the third and Lopez, who originally was going to be given the night off, came on as his replacement.

The Devil Rays interjected themselves into the transaction because they believe the Sox contacted Dan Lozano, the agent who represents Lugo, prior to the 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline last Monday. The Sox and Rays were engaged in trade talks involving Lugo, and the Rays believe the Sox wanted to know if Lugo would be a) willing to move to second base and b) interested in signing a long-term contract extension with Boston.

Such contact is regarded as tampering by Major League Baseball and is against industry policy. The Sox would be subject to discipline by commissioner Bud Selig if it was determined they had done so.

The Red Sox steadfastly maintain that Lozano -- believing a deal between Boston and Tampa Bay was close -- contacted them regarding Lugo, and not, as the Devil Rays charge, the other way around.

Lugo, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, eventually was traded to the Dodgers.

As for Lopez, he caught only 21 of Baltimore's first 109 games this year. He lost his job as the Orioles' starting catcher after they signed free agent Ramon Hernandez, and spent most of his time as designated hitter.

"I was pretty frustrated with the Orioles," Lopez said.

"I'm not ready to be a full-time DH. It's not a position for me after catching for 13 years. It was all frustrating. I had back, shoulder, neck (troubles), and that came from not catching. Basically, I'm not in the shape I was in when I caught every day."

Manager Terry Francona acknowleged Lopez's inactivity, and had hoped to ease him into action behind the plate.

"He hasn't caught that much," Francona said before the game. "I told him he's going to have to let me know how he feels physically."

But that plan went out the window almost immediately, when Mirabelli was hurt. Francona's comments before the game, however, indicated that the Sox feel Lopez should adjust quickly.

"He's an experienced catcher," Francona said. "He hasn't caught much [this season], but he has caught a lot [in his career]. He's caught some pretty good pitchers [early in his career with the Braves]. If our guys throw the ball over the plate like they're supposed to, he can catch. The more familiarity [a catcher has with a staff] the better, but we don't have that luxury right now.

"He's played a long time," Mirabelli said before the game. "He knows what to do behind the plate. It's not like bringing up some young kid who hasn't been here before. He has knowledge. The guy's been in many meaningful games in his career. The pressure won't bother him."

Indeed, Lopez -- who was on nine playoff teams during the early part of his career with the Braves and is a lifetime .278 hitter, with 10 home runs in 60 postseason games -- seems to welcome it.

"I'm excited," he said. "It's a change in atmosphere I can feel right now."

Journal sports writer Joe McDonald, and the Associated Press, contributed to this story.

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

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