Cubs Sign Left-Handed Pitcher; DFA Utilityman
Nicky Lopez was designated for assignment to open a spot for outfielder Kevin Alcantara, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.
And Ty Blach, who had been DFA'd by the Cubs one week ago, elected free agency, cleared waivers, and then signed right back with Chicago on a new minor league deal the same day.
Ty Blach recently elected free agency after being DFA’d by the #Cubs last week.
— Cubs Roundtable (@CubsRTB) May 26, 2026
But he is now back in the organization https://t.co/wXMIyDwdCr
Lopez was added to the active roster on April 24 as a utility infielder, appeared in just four games, two as a pinch-hitter and two as a defensive replacement, and was out of roster room once Pedro Ramirez was recalled from Iowa on Friday.
With Nico Hoerner entrenched at second base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Matt Shaw at third, and multiple infield options available at Triple-A, there was simply no role for a player whose value is primarily defensive.
Lopez has a .626 career OPS across six seasons split between the Royals, Braves, and White Sox and is not expected to clear waivers with his defensive profile.
The Blach Boomerang
The Blach situation is much more interesting.
He signed with the Cubs on a minor league deal in April, was selected to the big league roster last Sunday for his first MLB appearance since 2024, threw three scoreless innings against the Brewers on Monday while allowing just one hit and no walks, and was DFA'd the very next day when Caleb Thielbar was activated from the injured list.
Blach elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment because, as a player with multiple career outrights and more than three years of service time, he had the right to do so.
He cleared waivers, briefly hit the open market, and then signed right back with Chicago the same afternoon on a new minor league deal.
Some minor transactions over the past 2 days
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) May 25, 2026
Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed RHP Connor Knox on the 7-day injured list.
South Bend placed Ethan Flanagan on the Development List.
Daweson Netz activated by the Smokies and Eli Jerzembeck by South Bend.
Ty Blach elected free agency.
The Cubs, currently enduring a nine-game losing streak and having slipped out of first place in the NL Central, have been desperate for pitching depth all season with six relievers at various points on the injured list.
Edward Cabrera going on the IL in the interim only deepened the need for functional arms in the system.
Blach, 35, has a career 5.39 ERA across 523 big league innings, much of it accumulated at Coors Field with the Rockies, and his three shutout innings suggest there is still usable big league depth in his arm when called upon.
Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
