Overview
- A trade announced Thursday between the Cubs and Rockies sent infielder Nicky Lopez to Chicago for cash considerations.
- Chicago has placed Lopez on the 26-man roster and optioned infielder Scott Kingery to Triple-A Iowa, according to the team’s transactions page.
- To open a 40-man spot, the Cubs transferred pitcher Porter Hodge, who is out for the season, to the 60-day injured list.
- Lopez, 31, is a glove-first utility infielder who can play second, shortstop, and third and has logged 686 MLB games with a .245 career average, including a .300 season in 2021.
- He was hitting .333 with multiple extra-base hits at Triple-A Albuquerque this spring, giving Chicago a low-cost depth piece as the 16-9 Cubs sit atop the NL Central.