The New York Yankees have signed infielder Nicky Lopez to a minor league deal, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Lopez is expected to report shortly to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as the team adds depth ahead of the season‘s next phase. This move aims to bolster the Yankees’ infield options amid uncertainty at key positions.
Lopez’s Recent Career Movements and Performance
At 30 years old, Nicky Lopez has been maintaining a presence in the major leagues over the past few seasons, but 2025 has been a year of frequent transitions. He began the season in the Chicago Cubs organization on a minor league deal but chose to opt out after failing to secure a spot on the major league roster. Lopez then signed a big league contract with the Los Angeles Angels but was designated for assignment about three weeks into the season. Following that, the Cubs brought him back on another major league deal, which ended similarly with a designation for assignment a month later. Most recently, he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks from which he opted out days before joining the Yankees.
Offensive and Defensive Contributions
Lopez’s offensive numbers in the majors this year have been limited and underwhelming, recording a .042/.179/.042 slash line over just 28 plate appearances. His tenure in the minors with the Diamondbacks showed a .267/.303/.317 line, though his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) was only 46 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Historically, Lopez’s major league performance has been dominated by his defensive skills rather than his bat. His standout offensive campaign came in 2021 with a .300/.365/.378 line, but that year appears to be an exception. Over more than 1,200 major league plate appearances, his overall batting line stands at .229/.300/.283. Defense remains his strength, with experience primarily in the middle infield and time at third base, complemented by occasional appearances at first base, left field, and even pitching.
Yankees’ Roster Strategy and Lopez’s Role
New York faces challenges in their second base position this season, as DJ LeMahieu has struggled to perform at expected levels. The Yankees are reportedly looking to upgrade third base at the trade deadline, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. anticipated to shift to second base, potentially moving LeMahieu into a bench role. Until any major roster shifts occur, Nicky Lopez offers the Yankees a seasoned, versatile infielder for additional infield depth outside their 40-man roster.