KANSAS CITY - The Royals bid farewell to among their mainstay gamers on Sunday afternoon when they traded versatile infielder Nicky Lopez to the Braves for lefty reducer Taylor Hearn.The club announced the step after Kansas City brushed up the Twins this weekend break at Kauffman Stadium.TRADE DETAILSRoyals obtain: LHP Taylor HearnBraves get: INF Nicky LopezLopez, despite being just 28 years old and a Super 2 player with two more years of mediation qualification prior to coming to be a freelance, was one of the lengthiest tenured Royals on this young club. He was chosen by the company in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Creighton.Thank you, Nicky, for your effort, your management, and all of your contributions to our company and our city. We wish you and your family members all the very best as your occupation continues. pic.twitter.com/CN319EtGZx— Kansas City Royals () July 30 https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/yordano-ventura-jersey, 2023Three years later, Lopez made his Major League debut. Over the previous 4 seasons, Lopez ended up being a leader amongst a new age of Royals to reach the major leagues while ending up being a consistent and reputable defender.In 2021, Lopez ended up being the first everyday Royals shortstop to strike.300. He's revealed his capacity to move around the infield and has seven Outs Above Average this period, consisting of 4 at 3rd base.Now, Lopez signs up with a Braves team eyeing opinion. And his defensive adaptability - having played 2nd base, 3rd base Amir Garrett Jersey, shortstop and now first base and left field this period - must be an asset in the late innings down the stretch.Lopez is a left-handed bat who provides rate and the capability to hop on base, with a. 323 OPS this period and career-high 11.2% walk rate across 160 at-bats." Little psychological, " general supervisor J.J. Picollo said regarding informing Lopez he had actually been traded. "This is the only group he's recognized. He was happy for the chance; I assume he utilized the words, Giving me a possibility.'. On the silver lining, [he's joining] a team that's good." He's got a chance to contribute there and be component of something that can become a quite unique year for them." Picollo claimed the Royals and Braves started profession discussions entailing Lopez a few days earlier, with Atlanta needing infield depth and Kansas City looking for throwing help.In Hearn, the Royals see a reliever that can see success if points click, although there's threat entailed provided this is currently Hearn's fifth company given that he was picked by Washington in the 5th round of the 2015 MLB Draft." Constantly somebody we have actually had some interest in since he's a big left-hander with a big heater https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/kyle-wright-jersey, " Picollo claimed. "Got to work with his command a little, yet the speed's there. The pitch features are something we try to find, the slider's good." It simply appeared to pair up value-for-value." Hearn, 28, has lent a hand five big league games in 2023, yet he has actually spent the majority of the season in Triple-A, where he's posted a 3.66 age with 54 strikeouts and 24 strolls in 391/3 innings. The Braves obtained him on Monday for cash money after the Rangers designated him for task; the Royals did have an opportunity to obtain him then, however they passed on that opportunity.There is some cash being conserved in this handle the Braves handling the remainder of Lopez's $3.7 million income, while Hearn is making $1.4 million this season https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/matt-sauer-jersey, according to Cot's Contracts.With Lopez's increasing salary and limited playing time, he might have been a non-tender candidate this offseason.Hearn clearly has command concerns to overcome, however the Royals are urged by his pitch characteristics that consist of a 96 mph fastball and 87 miles per hour slider, in addition to the capability to toss a changeup." With reducers, you're simply attempting to appeal something-- occasionally it's simply one tweak, and all of a sudden, they're more constant and you can rely on him a bit more, " Picollo said. "Our group was confident about him." Hearn was contributed to the Royals' 40-man lineup and optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Kansas City will certainly make a lineup relocation prior to Tuesday's collection opener versus the Mets at Kauffman Stadium. It's most likely infielder Matt Beaty will certainly be reinstated from his rehabilitation assignment to aid the Royals at initial base up until Nick Pratto returns from the hurt list.More playing time will certainly also go to infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor, while there are a host of Triple-A placement players the club would love to see in Kansas City as the season winds down Kris Bubic Jersey, consisting of Nate Eaton again and potentially Nick Loftin, rated as the Royals' No. 3 possibility by MLB Pipeline." And then we have actually obtained to begin taking a look at some people that aren't on our lineup, " Picollo said. "When is the correct time to obtain them in the mix and get them some at-bats this period, too?"