The Cubs have announced that they’ve designated catcher Rafael Lopez for assignment. The move clears space on the Cubs’ 40-man for righty Donn Roach. To clear space on their active roster for Roach, the Cubs have optioned righty Yoervis Medina to Triple-A Iowa.
The 27-year-old Lopez earned a spot on the Cubs’ roster late in the 2014 season by hitting well at Double-A Tennessee and holding his own at Iowa, and he collected 14 big-league plate appearances last year. His hitting has failed to progress thus far this year, however — he’s currently batting .