Nicky Lopez has carved out a solid career for himself as a an elite defensive player all over the diamond. He helped the Braves shore up their defense and their bench after being acquired at the 2023 Trade Deadline.
How Acquired
Lopez was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals and, up until 2023, had spent his entire career with that organization. But as happens with players who get past three years of service time, he was getting more and more expensive via the arbitration process (thanks to a giant platform year), and Kansas City isn’t exactly known for their willingness to spend.