The Texas Rangers have recently struggled in games where they were expected to perform well. After being swept by the Los Angeles Angels, they were no-hit by the Houston Astros on Monday.
Surprisingly, Texas bounced back the next day by scoring eight runs in the first inning en route to a 10-7 win. The offense has been inconsistent all season, a trend that was especially evident in the first two games of the series against Houston.
On Wednesday, the Rangers made a few roster changes. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, outfielder Andrew McCutchen was designated for assignment. Additionally, the team agreed to a one-year major league contract with infielder Nicky Lopez.
Rangers Needed to Move On from McCutchen
McCutchen signed with Texas during spring training and made an immediate impression. The 39-year-old showed no signs of slowing down, recording nine hits in 21 at-bats and earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. He carried that momentum into the regular season, getting a hit in each of his first five games. Unfortunately, his hot start faded quickly. Over 37 games, he batted .192/.277/.260. Used mostly as a platoon designated hitter against lefties, his playing time was irregular. While his veteran leadership had a positive effect early on, his lack of production ultimately ended his time with the Rangers.
Lopez is an eight-year veteran who has played for five different teams, including a five-year stretch with the Kansas City Royals. The 31-year-old was impressive in Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .333 in 15 games before being traded to the Chicago Cubs on April 23. He was designated for assignment on May 23.
How Lopez Could Help the Rangers
Lopez will have a chance to make an immediate impact, as he was inserted into the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game, batting ninth and playing second base. He made a lighthearted comment about his new teammate Jacob deGrom, telling MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry, “I’m glad I’m sharing the diamond with Jacob deGrom now. I don’t ever wanna see him again.” The addition of Lopez gives Texas a middle infielder who can contribute defensively. Lopez was a Gold Glove finalist at second base in both 2020 and 2024. That position has been a defensive problem for the Rangers this season. Josh Smith is currently on the injured list, which opened the door for Justin Foscue. If Lopez can provide offense, he could cut into Foscue’s playing time. He will form a middle-infield tandem with Ezequiel Duran while Corey Seager remains sidelined with back inflammation.
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