ANAHEIM ¨C The Angels signed veteran infielder Nicky Lopez to a one-year, $850,000 contract, the team announced Tuesday, amid a slew of roster moves leading up to Opening Day.
Lopez, 30, has played six seasons in the big leagues, mostly for the Royals, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2016. Lopez spent 2024 with the White Sox, slashing .241/.312/.294 with one home run in 124 games.
Lopez, who had joined the Cubs on a Minor League deal this spring before being granted his release last week, will help plug a hole in the Angels¡¯ infield while shortstop Zach Neto rehabs from offseason shoulder surgery.
¡°He can play all over the field,¡± general manager Perry Minasian said of Lopez prior to the Angels' 4-1 loss to the Dodgers at Angel Stadium on Tuesday. ¡°He came in and he brought gloves for every position outside of catcher. We said, ¡®We gotta get you a catcher¡¯s mitt.¡¯
¡°He was somebody that was attractive in the sense that he knows how to play the game, and play depending on the scoreboard and the situation.¡±
Lopez has 333 games of big league experience at second base, 293 at shortstop and 61 at third, with a handful of appearances at first and in the outfield. He was named as a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award at second base in 2024.
Angels manager Ron Washington said Lopez would play all over the infield, splitting time at second base and shortstop with Tim Anderson and Kevin Newman, and could also see time at first and third. Third baseman Yo¨¢n Moncada, who has been sidelined since March 12 with a sore right thumb, is ¡°ready to go¡± for Opening Day, Washington announced during his postgame press conference. Moncada takes the final spot on the Angels¡¯ roster.
¡°I¡¯m going to try to give all of them an opportunity to play, and we¡¯ll see where it goes,¡± Washington said.