The Texas Rangers designated veteran first-round swingman Matt McCutchen for assignment and brought in Nicky Lopez via a minor league utility contract ahead of their game at Globe Life Field against the Houston Astros.
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers moved quickly on Wednesday, making a sharp roster adjustment ahead of their game against Houston at Globe Life Field.
In a flurry of transactions announced prior to the matchup, the Rangers designated veteran outfielder and designated hitter Matt McCutchen for assignment. The team also signed utility infielder Nicky Lopez to a minor league contract.
Lopez, 31, split the 2026 season between the Colorado and Chicago-NL organizations. He had signed 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 before being designated for assignment on Saturday.
The move lands Lopez with a history of versatility. 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.
His peak came in 2021 with Kansas City, where he set career highs in games played (151), hits (149), RBI (43), and batting average (.300). That season ranked him 2nd on the Royals in baseball-reference WAR (4.4) behind Salvador Perez (5.3). Lopez was originally selected by Kansas City in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Creighton University.
McCutchen, 39, enters the Rangers’ DFA process after posting a tough stretch at the plate for Texas. He batted .192 (14-73) with one home run, 2 doubles, and 5 RBI over 37 games, with 16 starts at designated hitter (9), rightfield (5), and leftfield (2). Twenty-one of McCutchen’s 83 plate appearances for Texas came as a pinch hitter. the most in baseball entering play today. with a right-handed line of 2-for-18 (.111) and 3 walks in those spots.
The Rangers originally signed McCutchen as a minor league free agent on March, and he was selected to Texas’ Opening Day roster on March 25. Now, 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 LHPs Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery.
Texas Rangers Nicky Lopez Matt McCutchen DFA MLB roster moves Globe Life Field Houston Astros Carter Baumler Cody Bradford Jordan Montgomery