Lopez fighting for roster spot, but says he would welcome Bregman on Cubs
Nicky Lopez is hoping to leave Arizona as part of the Cubs' Opening Day roster, but said Tuesday he'd be happy to see fellow infielder Alex Bregman sign with the team.
“Me and Bregman are actually really good friends,” Lopez told reporters in Mesa, Ariz. “We work out in the offseason together. So I've been talking to him pretty much every single day about it. It would be sweet to share a locker room with him.”
Lopez, a Naperville Central High School graduate, said he sees Bregman in the offseason at EXOS training facility near Dallas. He said they also have a close friend in common.
“I would love for (Bregman) to be in this clubhouse with us,” Lopez added. “I think he makes this team better, just his drive, the way he goes about his business, but also just the talent on the field as well.”
After spending last season with the White Sox, Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs. Former Yankee Jon Berti joined the Cubs and is expected to serve as the utility infielder.
But Lopez has a chance to make the Cubs’ roster if second baseman Nico Hoerner isn't ready to start the season after having wrist surgery in October, or if the Cubs want a veteran option at third base besides rookie Matt Shaw. So signing Bregman could end up keeping Lopez off the major league roster, but he didn't see it as a negative.
“I don't think it would hurt me,” Lopez said. “It would help me and help our team. That's what I'm focused on, is how is this going to help our team? Obviously I have to make the team first, but I'm willing and able to do whatever I need to do.”
Lopez, 29, played in 124 games for the White Sox last season, all at either second base or shortstop. He broke into the big leagues in 2019 with Kansas City after playing in college at Creighton.
Moving from the South Side to North Side shouldn't be awkward for Lopez. His father grew up a White Sox fan, but his mother's side of the family cheered for the Cubs.
“Obviously, it's a little different, but coming over here is a dream come true,” he said. “I have a lot of family members, and my grandpa is very excited, he's a die-hard Cubs fan. So it's exciting and I'm happy to be in this clubhouse.”
Pitcher Jameson Taillon, a Houston native, also weighed in on the possibility of signing Bregman as a free agent. The Cubs have already added two former Astros during the offseason, trading for outfielder Kyle Tucker and reliever Ryan Pressly.
“I don't know about recruiting, but I know those guys speak very highly of (Bregman) and I've definitely heard them communicate that out loud,” Taillon said. “I don't what's going on behind the scenes as far as recruiting. Obviously, he's an incredible player.”
In other news, pitcher Javier Assad was sidelined with oblique soreness. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters it was diagnosed as a mild strain and Assad should miss only a few days.