Arlington, Texas – The Texas Rangers today announced the following transactions prior to tonight’s game against Houston at Globe Life Field:
- Infielder Nicky Lopez (#33) signed to a one-year Major League contract covering the 2026 season
- Outfielder Andrew McCutchen designated for assignment
Lopez, 31, has split the 2026 season between the Colorado and Chicago-NL organizations after signing a minor league contract with the Rockies on December 8, 2025. The left-handed-hitting utility infielder broke Spring Training camp with Colorado’s Triple-A Albuquerque affiliate and hit .333 (18-54) in 15 games for the Isotopes before being traded to the Cubs for cash considerations on April 23. Chicago-NL purchased his contract on April 24, and Lopez went 0-for-5 with one run scored in 4 Major League games for the Cubs prior to being designated for assignment on Saturday.
A veteran of eight Major League campaigns with Kansas City (2019-23), Atlanta (2023), Chicago-AL (2024), Los Angeles-AL (2025), and Chicago-NL (2025-26), Lopez has posted a .245/.309/.310/.620 (522-2133) slash line with 7 home runs, 18 triples, 83 doubles, 47 stolen bases, and 263 runs scored in 693 MLB games. The Naperville, Ill. native has made defensive starts at five different positions, including second base (292), shortstop (265), third base (49), leftfield (2), and first base (1), owning a career .989 fielding percentage.
Lopez tallied career highs in games played (151), hits (149), RBI (43), and batting average (.300) in 2021 with Kansas City, ranking 2nd on the Royals in baseball-reference WAR (4.4) to Salvador Perez (5.3). He was originally selected by Kansas City in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Creighton University.
McCutchen, 39, batted .192 (14-73) with one home run, 2 doubles, and 5 RBI over 37 games for Texas, including 16 starts at designated hitter (9), rightfield (5), and leftfield (2). 21 of McCutchen’s 83 plate appearances for Texas came as a pinch hitter, the most in baseball entering play today, as the right-handed hitter was 2-for-18 (.111) with 3 walks in those spots. McCutchen was originally signed by Texas as a minor league free agent on March and was selected to Texas’ Opening Day roster on March 25. The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright McCutchen to the minor leagues.
With today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with three players on the 60-day Injured List (RHP Carter Baumler and LHP’s Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery).
