Royals trade Lopez to Braves for Hearn

The Kansas City Royals traded infielder Nicky Lopez to the Atlanta Braves for left-hander Taylor Hearn on Sunday, the teams announced.

Lopez doesn't flash much power with the bat but did hit .300 for the Royals during his best campaign in 2021. The 28-year-old owns a .210/.322/.280 slash line with 13 RBIs and four steals for Kansas City this season.

Lopez is traditionally a shortstop but could provide the Braves with a defensive option at second and third base, as well.

Hearn heads to the Royals after the Braves picked him up in a separate trade with the Texas Rangers last week.

The 28-year-old appeared in one game for Atlanta, allowing four earned runs in one-third of an inning. Prior to that outing, he posted a 10.29 ERA in seven innings with the Rangers.