With just nine wins in their last 20 games, the Chicago Cubs seek anything to help them right the ship and catch the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central standings.
Heading into Tuesday night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs are six games behind the Brewers with 45 games remaining on their schedule. They scored nine runs in their win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, but just two combined runs in Friday and Sunday’s contests.
Barring an injury to one of their infielders, the Cubs reunited with a slick defender for the third time this season on a minor league contract.
Nicky Lopez Agrees to Minor League Deal With Cubs
Over the weekend, infielder Nicky Lopez agreed to a minor league contract with the Cubs for the third time this season. Lopez opted out of a minor league deal with the New York Yankees last week after playing 17 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Before his stint in the Yankees organization, the lefty appeared in 24 games at Triple-A Reno, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 30-year-old can play every position in the infield besides first base and has played 18 games this season at the Major League Baseball level, 14 of them with the Cubs. Lopez had just one hit in 22 plate appearances with Chicago from April 23 to May 19.
“Not having a path to the Major League roster with either team, it does make sense that Lopez returned to the organization that is close to home, ” FanSided’s Jordan Campbell wrote about the 2024 Gold Glove Award finalist at shortstop with the Chicago White Sox.
“Adding a player like Lopez is the type of move contenders usually make during the final months of the season. With there no longer being a waiver trade deadline, teams like the Cubs will be scouring the free-agent market to add some depth before September.”
Can Lopez Make a Difference in the Major Leagues?
For now, Lopez’s new contract with the Cubs can solely be considered a depth move for the Cubs. He’s a below-average hitter with little to no power, but can provide quality defense at third or second base and shortstop.
“An injury to [Matt] Shaw, Nico Hoerner, and Dansby Swanson would leave the Cubs thin in the infield at the Major League level,” wrote Campbell. “Instead of turning to unproven prospects such as Ben Cowles or James Triantos, Lopez gives the organization some veteran insurance. Of course, for the Cubs’ sake, the hope is that there isn’t a need for him at the Major League level between now and the end of the season.”
The best offensive season of the infielder’s career was in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals, when he hit .300/.365/.378 with 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts and managed an OPS+ of 104 and 4.4 WAR in 151 games.
The Cubs acquired the versatile Willi Castro from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline, and their former top prospect, third baseman Matt Shaw, is swinging the stick much better (.267, 3 HR, 5 RBIs in last 10 games) of late. Castro and Shaw’s improved play leaves little room for Lopez on Chicago’s MLB roster.
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