Royals utilityman extraordinaire Whit Merrifield has been a bright spot on a struggling roster, playing his way into trade consideration. If he has his way, though, he’ll remain with the Kansas City organization on a long-term deal, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports (subscription link).
Merrifield is an unusual player. Not only is he a late bloomer — the 29-year-old entered the current season with just 1.101 years on his service clock — but he has succeeded thus far in the majors with a still-evolving profile.
Last year, he hit a surprising 19 home runs but registered only a .324 on-base percentage even with a lofty .288 batting average. Thus far in 2018, the power is down (five home runs, .427 SLG, .125 ISO) but Merrifield sports a .369 OBP. He has already drawn more walks (32) than he did in nearly twice the plate appearances in 2017 (29).
Meanwhile, Merrifield has diversified his game on the defensive side. He has continued to grade out as a quality fielder at second. But he’s also holding his own in the outfield, with positive marks on his 102 innings in center field. Of course, Merrifield remains one of the game’s better baserunners, too.
Clearly, the overall profile is rather compelling. I examined the case for a long-term arrangement with Merrifield earlier this year and he has only continued to impress. Despite the fact that the Royals are really only just now launching a rebuilding effort, the team is hoping it’ll be a relatively quick turnaround, as evidenced by their prioritization of college arms in the recent amateur draft.
If there’s a compelling case to be made for K.C. to do a deal, it’s that locking up Merrifield would not only ensconce him as part of a new roster core, but could also provide an opportunity to realize significant value. The control rights leave the team with leverage. And it certainly seems as if he’s keen to sign on for the long run.
Indeed, per Dodd, Merrifield and his representatives sought to get talks started on an extension last winter. While that didn’t lead anywhere, he expressed an interest in revisiting talks — after the current season, at least. “Hopefully it’s something that could be possible down the road,” he says.
What’s interesting about this dynamic is that it offers a tantalizing and clear alternative to the Royals as the summer trade period gets underway in earnest. The possibility of an affordable, long-term arrangement will surely be weighed as part of the decisionmaking when offers come in the door.
Of course, the club already controls Merrifield for quite some time, and the limits of the arbitration process cap his potential earnings, so the possibility of a lengthier pact doesn’t drastically change the situation. But for an organization weighing how best to engineer a turnaround, and retain the goodwill it built with its fans over a multi-year run of contention, it’s a factor. The fact that Merrifield can play multiple positions makes it less likely that he’d get in the way of young talent, too.
All that being said, there ought to be some interesting possibilities on the trade front, too — whether at the deadline or in the ensuing offseason. Merrifield would fit quite nicely on quite a few contending rosters. His cheap remaining seasons of control will have plenty of appeal, even if the true upside is discounted a bit by his age and (to a lesser extent) lack of a lengthy MLB track record, particularly given that he’s shown aptitude in multiple places on the diamond.
He’s already 29 and under control through his age 33 season. If kc wants to keep him they can, but there’s no incentive to keep him instead of flipping him for younger prospects unless he’s willing to give kc a discount for a no-trade clause.
Discount. lol. He’s making almost the minimum.
Kinda is making the min
Only thing lower is a rookie contract
Financially, it makes no sense to give him a long-term deal, as that would just lock them into paying guaranteed money. As it stands right now, he won’t hit the free agent market until he’s 34 or 35, and his value will be likely be minimal anyway. The Royals are much better off going year-to-year with him and in the event that they ever want to cut ties with him, they can do so in any year, and his trade value is much higher with no guaranteed money on the books beyond the current year.
I would trade Whit sooner rather than later.
Maybe something to address during the next MLBPA negotiations. Perhaps add a free agent kicker option at a certain age regardless of service years.
I want my White Sox to get him and have him be our Ben Zobrist in 2020 when we are good again.
As a Royals fan Whit does have many of the characteristics of Zobrist. Can play about anywhere but SS and catcher. Is not a switch hitter, but has power and will swipe some bags. And he competes hard. He does not deserve to spend the next couple of years on a terrible Royals team that did not bring him up to majors soon enough.
I’ve always liked Merrifield since I saw him play in the majors for the first time a few years ago. He hustles, has a good attitude, is team-minded, and is a solid all-around player. I’ll be happy if KC keeps him! He should be productive for at least 3-5 more years.
I love Whit, but the Royals should absolutely trade him if they get a good package for him. Players don’t typically get better or more valuable after age 30.
That being said, I wouldn’t be mad if the royals decided to keep him. It makes absolutely 0 sense to extend his contract right now though. He’ll be going into his age 34 season when he’s a free agent. And maybe he sucks after this year, and we’re in another bad contract.
Extending him might make sense if he was 24 or 25, but not at 29. He’s made a case to be a solid investment, but why should KC pay more when they don’t have to?
Not surprised he would want guaranteed money. His production may tank completely as he gets over the 30 hump, and it is a number he’ll hit in just a couple months
Not sure why the Royals (or any club trading for him) would give him a longeterm deal though. No reason to do so; with even the emotion driven “goodwill” aspect possibly backfiring and becoming low hanging fruit for criticism if he does fall off the 30 cliff.
That’s exactly what CLE did with Kipnis, and that has backfired royally.
Whit makes a lot of sense for the Phillies in the OF and at 3rd in a pinch.
As a Royals fan…I hope Whit is an ex Royal soon. Its not that im not a fan…I am. He’s a very good ML player and will make some GM happy he traded for him. Its all the other stuff. He’s 29 and the Royals have some young 2nd baseman coming up in a year ow two. I think Dayton wiill trade him right after Manny has a new home..same for Moose.
Merrifield has the blue-collar work ethic that forces the Royals to consider a long term relationship; he will ask for a fair contract, too.