Nicky Lopez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Free-agent infielder Nicky Lopez has signed an undisclosed major-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday and will be on the team's Opening Day roster. The Chicago Cubs cut Lopez despite the fact that he went 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles and three runs scored in nine Cactus League games in spring training. The 30-year-old veteran will provide the Angels with veteran infield depth as they navigate injuries to shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) and third basemen Yoan Moncada (thumb) and Anthony Rendon (hip) to begin the 2025 regular season. The former fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2016 out of Creighton University has six years of big-league experience but has been a below-average hitter with very little power (seven homers). At best, Lopez could be worth a look in AL-only leagues for his speed (47 career steals) for infield depth.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nicky Lopez was part of a handful of cuts made by the organization this weekend. The most shocking was probably Lopez who was expected to make the 28-man roster for the season-opener in Japan. Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs and was competing for a utility infielder spot on the roster. Unfortunately, Lopez wasn't able to beat out Gage Workman or Vidal Brujan for one of those final spots on the roster. The expectation is that Lopez is going to be released, so that he could attempt to catch on elsewhere.

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs have signed infielder Nicky Lopez to a minor league contract. Lopez spent the 2024 campaign on the Southside of Chicago and will now move up to the Northside for the 2025 season. Across 124 games, Lopez held a .241/.312/.294 line. He tallied 12 doubles, three triples, and five stolen bases. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 15.1 percent strikeout rate and a solid 8.3 percent walk rate. However, he struggled to generate any power as he posted a .288 xSLG and a 1.5 percent barrel rate, both within the first percentile among qualified hitters. Fantasy managers should expect the 29-year-old to compete for a depth spot in the infield during spring training.