The Chicago Cubs have entered a Minor League deal with infielder Nicky Lopez. A source reported this, while the club has not officially confirmed it.
Lopez spent the last MLB season playing in second base and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox. He batted .241 with a .606 OPS across 445 plate appearances. He has a .626 OPS across six major league seasons shared between the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and White Sox.
While he does not leave much mark at the plate, Lopez is a plus defender by outs above averaged. He gathered 5 OAA last season and had 53 OAA in the infield since the beginning of 2021. This record is fifth among all skilled infielders.
Lopez could play a crucial role for the Cubs Opening Day match, especially with Nico Hoerner unclear after he had flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm on October 11th.
Chicago will start their 2025 regular season in Tokyo, Japan, against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18.
