Chicago Cubs Youngster Draws Comparison to Boston Red Sox Star
In his short time with the Chicago Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong has shown fans that he has the potential to be very good, but he has to swing it better. In his rookie season, Crow-Armstrong finished hitting .237, with 10 home runs and 47 RBI.
He struck out 98 times and had 21 walks in his 372 at-bats. Despite the bat not coming along yet, the 22-year-old has the tools to be elite, and that’s what the Cubs are hoping for. MLB.com’s David Adler made comparisons for some of the future stars in the league. For Crow-Armstrong, he was named the 2025 version of Jarren Duran under the “huge leap from an unexpected source” category.
In 2024, nobody expected Duran to be as good as he was, but he finished as one of the best in baseball, including a top-10 finish in AL MVP voting. He was named an All-Star, too. For Chicago, Crow-Armstrong has shown he has all the potential in the world. He’s still young and talented enough to amount to something in this league.
He’s already among the most valuable speed-and-defense guys in the league. If the left-handed hitter ends up being as talented as Duran, the Cubs would be in an excellent position for the next decade.
Cubs adding INF Nicky Lopez on Minor League deal (source
Cubs adding INF Nicky Lopez on Minor League deal (source)
The Cubs have agreed to a Minor League deal with free-agent infielder Nicky Lopez, a source told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the move.
Lopez, who will turn 30 on March 13, spent last season playing second base and shortstop for the crosstown White Sox. The Naperville, Ill., native batted .241 with a .606 OPS across 445 plate appearances and owns a .626 OPS across six big league seasons split between the Royals, Braves and White Sox.
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Although he doesn’t make much of an impact at the plate, Lopez is a plus defender by outs above average. He accrued 5 OAA last year and has 53 OAA in the infield since the start of 2021. That ranks fifth among all qualified infielders.
Lopez could play a vital role early in the year with second baseman Nico Hoerner’s status for Opening Day unclear after he underwent flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm on Oct. 11.
The Cubs begin their 2025 regular season in Tokyo, Japan, against the Dodgers on March 18.
Lopez is the Cubs’ latest acquisition to improve the team’s infield depth, following the signing of Jon Berti and the trade for Vidal Bruján. Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect and No. 19 in MLB, can also play some second base, but he is currently the front-runner to be Chicago’s starting third baseman.
