The New York Yankees are making a depth play, and it comes in the form of a glove-first veteran who’s been all over the MLB map in 2025. According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Yankees are signing infielder Nicky Lopez to a minor league deal, with expectations that he’ll report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the coming days.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t a move that’s meant to shake up the roster. But it’s another signal that the Yankees are quietly preparing for flexibility in their infield as the trade deadline approaches—and they want options on hand.
Lopez’s Wild Ride in 2025
Lopez, 30, has been bouncing like a pinball this season. He started the year with the Cubs on a minor league deal but didn’t make the Opening Day roster and opted out.
From there? A short-lived big league stint with the Angels and a second round with the Cubs (again brief). Most recently, a minor league deal with Arizona. After opting out of that as well, he now lands in the Yankees system, clearly looking for one more shot.
His MLB numbers in 2025 are grim—just .042/.179/.042 in 28 plate appearances. That’s not a typo. No extra-base hits. Just one total hit. However, the sample size is small and scattered, and it doesn’t accurately represent the broader appeal Lopez brings.
The Value: Defense, Versatility, and Veteran Experience
Lopez has always been known more for his glove than his bat. He’s logged extensive time at second base and shortstop, with respectable time at third base. And even a few cameo appearances at first, left field, and—yes—the mound. If you’re looking for positional versatility and defensive reliability, this is your guy.
His one standout season came in 2021, when he hit .300 with a .365 OBP. But that’s proven to be the outlier. Since then, over more than 1,200 plate appearances, he’s hitting just .229/.300/.283. Still, that kind of contact-heavy, low-strikeout approach can have value off the bench, especially when paired with solid defense.
How He Fits into the Yankees’ Bigger Picture
Let’s talk context. DJ LeMahieu has not had the bounce-back season many hoped for. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been filling in at third base but has been vocal about his desire to return to second base—his natural position. The Yankees are expected to shop for a third baseman at the deadline, which could lead to an infield shuffle: Chisholm to second, LeMahieu to a utility/bench role, and Lopez as a defensive reserve insurance piece.
In that scenario, Lopez isn’t someone you rely on daily, but he becomes the kind of depth piece that can give you a solid glove off the bench, plug a late-game defensive hole, or serve as injury insurance in September. It’s not flashy. It’s not game-changing. But it’s a classic midseason move for a contender trying to fine-tune every possible roster scenario heading into the stretch run.
Nicky Lopez might not play a key role in New York’s October dreams, but don’t be surprised if he pops up when they need someone to make a clean turn at second or save a run late in a tight game. Sometimes, it’s the quiet signings that wind up making the biggest difference.
