Cubs sign former White Sox infielder Nicky Lopez |
Well, that certainly didn't take long.
After reporting that the Cubs were still in the market for a utility bat/player, the Cubs took that to heart and added another utility infielder capable of making this team out of camp. While this isn't a major league deal, it certainly can turn into one as infielder Nicky Lopez and the Cubs have agreed to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring. While Lopez wasn't one of the top names or even a name listed when we discussed the options the other day, he does fit the mold as a utility player, which the Cubs were looking to add to their roster. Should he make this team out of camp, he would give the Cubs even more roster flexibility as he can play second, short, or even some third. When you look at Lopez as a player, he has been nothing more than a role player for most of his career, apart from one monster season where he broke onto the scene. Outside that year, he is a glove-first defender with above-average speed but offers little to no production with the bat. That doesn't seem like the type of hitter this team would target, but when you look at his defensive skills, especially his versatility, you can see why the Cubs focus on bringing him in. As part of the White Sox last season, Lopez started the year as a platoon player before seeing more playing time in the second half. He hit .241 across 124 games with one homer and 21 RBIs. What stands out, however, is his bat-to-ball skills. He struck out around 15 percent of the time, which is well below league average, and walked around 9%, meaning he often makes contact. His lone strong season, which was the big year mentioned above, came in 2021 as a member of the Kansas City Royals. In that season, he played in a career-high 151 games and hit .300. To go with that came a career-high two homers and 43 RBIs, as well as a career-high 22 steals, as Lopez proved he could handle an increased role that season. As good a season as that was for him, it was the only time you can say he was viewed as a starting-caliber player. Lopez hasn't hit north of .245 since, with the .241 average last season being the highest it has been in three years. He has also combined for just two homers and 45 RBIs over the past three seasons. He went from being a potential starting second baseman on a rebuilding team to a player just trying to stick with one organization. Even if his offensive numbers scream Nick Madrigal, which in reality are similar, Lopez is a 29-year-old who can play all over the infield. That alone is a plus for late-game substitutions, but when you're historically good at all those infield spots, it allows him to see some increased time with injuries and other factors. Even if he comes into Spring and doesn't make the team, he is at that point in his career where he knows his situation and where he stands. Given that this is a minor league deal, you could send him to AAA to begin the season, and should he play well, there is a chance that he gets called up at some point to replace Vidal Brujan or another bench-level player. When you look at the Cubs' current roster, 10 of their 13 spots have been filled by hitters, leaving three spots open for players to battle it out. Jon Berti and Brujan are two players expected to make this team, leaving the final spot up for grabs between Gage Workman and Lopez. Even if Workman has a higher upside than Lopez, Lopez could be the favorite to win this job out of Spring as he is familiar with the role he is walking into and won't require everyday at-bats. With eight days remaining until pitchers and catchers report, look for the Cubs to make a few more moves like this, as baseball is almost here on the Northside.
