The Rockies have a minor league deal in place with utility player Tim Lopes, according to the club’s transactions log at MLB.com. The transactions log also indicates that infielder Kyle Holder has been signed to a minors deal as well.
Lopes, 27, has seen MLB action in each of the past three seasons, getting into 94 games in total. 87 of those games came with the Mariners over 2019 and 2020, as Lopes spent time at second base, third base and both corner outfield spots. In that time, he hit .252/.315/.362 for a wRC+ of 89.
He was designated for assignment before the 2021 campaign and claimed by the Brewers. He started the season on the 60-day IL and missed the first couple months of the season, then spent the rest bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues. In the end, he only got into seven MLB games. In 93 Triple-A games, he hit .226/.305/.401. He was designated for assignment in September and elected free agency after the season.
Holder, also 27, has yet to make his major league debut. He was selected by the Phillies in last year’s Rule 5 Draft and traded to the Reds, but was returned to the Yankees at the end of spring training. He spent 2021 in Triple-A for the Yankees, playing 78 games and hitting .216/.295/.276. Despite that tepid offensive production, Holder has been long-heralded for his glove and hit much better in Double-A in 2019.
The Rockies likely have three infield spots spoken for by C.J. Cron, Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers. The last spot could be claimed by Garrett Hampson, but he spent more time in the outfield than the infield in 2021. Colton Welker and Alan Trejo are also on the 40-man and got some playing time in 2021, but there’s certainly a path for a depth player to force their way into the mix in 2022.
