Lopez signed a one-year, $3.7 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

A case could have been made for Lopez to be a non-tender candidate after he had one of the worst seasons at the plate as a regular in recent memory with a .227/.281/.273 batting line in 2022. However, he's still excellent defensively and the Royals will hope he can regain his form from 2021 when he slashed .300/.365/.378. Lopez is slated to compete with Michael Massey for playing time at second base and offers depth at third behind the perpetually injured Adalberto Mondesi (knee).

Lopez isn't in the starting lineup Tuesday against Minnesota, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez has now missed three consecutive starts in the Royals' infield, sitting each time in favor of rookie Nate Eaton. Eaton will start the game at third base, batting ninth.

Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez went 0-for-6 with a strikeout over the last two matchups and will head to the bench for the third time in the last six games. Bobby Witt is starting at shortstop and batting second.

Lopez isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez went 0-for-2 during Tuesday's loss to Minnesota and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Bobby Witt is taking over at shortstop and batting second.

Lopez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez singled in a run in Saturday's game, but that was the only hit he recorded over his last four games, so manager Mike Matheny decided to hold him out Sunday.

Lopez is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez is hitting .290 with a double, a triple and a stolen base in 31 at-bats over his last 10 games. He has started seven of the last 10 games.

Lopez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI in a 3-2 win Sunday in Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez had an RBI single in the fourth, singled and stole second in the sixth and walked in the eighth. It was just the second time he reached base safely three times in a game since July 7. He is now 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts on the season and has six steals since the beginning of August.

Lopez will sit Friday against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez owns a poor .571 OPS since the start of August, though that's barely a downgrade from the .584 OPS he posted through the end of July. He continues to start regularly, but it will be Bobby Witt Jr. who slides to shortstop Friday, with Hunter Dozier entering the lineup at third base.

Lopez isn't starting Saturday against the Padres, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lopez will get a day off after he went 4-for-14 with a triple, a double, five runs, an RBI, two walks and two strikeouts over the last five games. Bobby Witt will shift to shortstop while Kyle Isbel enters the lineup in right field.

Lopez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Maikel Garcia will crack the lineup at shortstop while Lopez rests for the day game after a night game. Lopez's day off comes after he went 4-for-10 with a run scored while starting in each of the Royals' past three contests.