ATLANTA -- Right-hander Albie Lopez agreed Thursday to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves after going a combined 9-19 with Tampa Bay and Arizona last season.

Lopez was 5-12 with a 5.34 ERA with the Devil Rays, who traded him with catcher Mike DiFelice for pitcher Nick Bierbrodt and outfielder Jason Conti. Lopez was 4-7 with a 4.00 ERA for the Diamondback and was the losing pitcher in Game 5 of the World Series, giving up a 12th-inning RBI single to the Yankees' Alfonso Soriano.

Atlanta could use Lopez as a fifth starter or send him to the bullpen. He spent the 1998 and 1999 seasons working in relief for Tampa Bay.

Lopez is 42-52 with an ERA of 4.75 since he entered the majors with Cleveland in 1993.

Also Thursday, the Braves declined to offer a 2002 contract to right-hander Marc Valdes, who had a 7.71 ERA in nine appearances for Atlanta this season. Valdes becomes a free agent.

Atlanta also made four minor league managerial changes.

Fredi Gonzalez becomes manager of Triple-A Richmond in place of Carlos Tosca. Brian Snitker takes over at Double-A Greenville after managing at Class A Myrtle Beach in 2001. Randy Ingle will move up to Myrtle Beach after managing Class A Macon in 2001 and Lynn Jones will manage Macon.