Four days after infielder Nicky Lopez was released by the Cubs, the Naperville native found a new home on the West Coast.

The Los Angeles Angels announced the signing on Tuesday, as Lopez inked a one-year contract. He was released by the Cubs and became a free agent on Friday.

Lopez signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in the offseason and was a non-roster-invitee to big-league camp to provide infield depth during the spring. Before signing with the Cubs, Lopez spent the 2024 season on the Southside of Chicago. His campaign with the White Sox saw him accrue a .241/.312/.294 slash line (.606 OPS) in 445 plate appearances.

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In spring training, Lopez played in nine games with the Cubs during Cactus League action. He posted impressive numbers during his limited game action with a .450/.542/.550 slash line (1.092 OPS) in 24 plate appearances.

While Lopez displayed flashes in his time on the diamond, there was not enough consistent playing time with how crowded the infield depth was. Despite offseason surgery to Nico Hoerner (flexor tendon operation) and top prospect Matt Shaw starting spring on the shelf with oblique soreness, Lopez was one of the odd men out in the infield picture as he was one of the final cuts before the team jetted off for Japan to play in the Tokyo Series.. Ultimately, Jon Berti, Vidal Bruján and Gage Workman rounded out the Cubs infield contingent in Japan with Shaw, Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch.

The Cubs travel to Los Angeles to face the Angels in late August and a chance for Lopez – and Cubs legend Kyle Hendricks – to square off against their former squad.