March 9, 2025
Lopez is expected to be granted his release after the Cubs informed him Sunday that he won't be part of the team's 31-man travel roster for its season-opening series in Japan versus the Dodgers on March 18 and 19,
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSISLopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs on Feb. 2 and had been competing for a utility infielder job with the big club during spring training. Even though second baseman
Nico Hoerner (forearm) won't be available for the two-game series in Tokyo, Lopez wasn't able to beat out Rule 5 pick
Gage Workman or
Vidal Brujan for a bench role. Lopez shouldn't have much trouble catching on with another organization on a minor-league deal.