With just a 19-39 record to show for the 2019 season, the Royals have the second-worst record in baseball, and are already looking ahead to next year. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that Kansas City is open to trading “nearly anybody on their roster,” with the obvious exception of a few key young players. Adalberto Mondesi and Hunter Dozier are two of “the select untouchables,” though it seems as if K.C. is willing to at least discuss anyone else.
This includes Whit Merrifield, despite the fact that the super-utilityman just signed a $16.25MM contract extension with the Royals before the season. As MLBTR’s Jeff Todd explained at the time of the deal, however, Merrifield’s extension was something of a unique circumstance, as the contract only extended Kansas City’s control over Merrifield by as much as one free agent season (via a club option for the 2023 campaign) and thus didn’t offer much financial risk to the Royals beyond what Merrifield likely would have earned anyway in his arbitration years. From Merrifield’s perspective, he was able to lock in at least one big guaranteed payday in his late-blooming career, as Merrifield is already in his age-30 season.
From a trade perspective, that extension also makes Merrifield all the more attractive as a long-term piece for interested suitors. He is enjoying another strong year at the plate, hitting .300/.355/.508 over 262 plate appearances, with seven homers and a league-high seven triples to go along with eight stolen bases. Merrifield has significantly increased his pop (a .208 Isolated Slugging mark) and hard-hit ball rate (43.1%) from last season, though that latter number offers some promise of regression, as Merrifield’s xwOBA is only .349 (compared to a wOBA of .364).
Merrifield has spent much of his time at second base and right field this season, though he has experience playing everywhere but catcher and pitcher over his four MLB seasons. His age could be a minor red flag, though between Merrifield’s hitting prowess, defensive versatility, and long-term control, he stands out as one of the better trade chips available this deadline season. It’s also worth noting that since Merrifield is locked up on an affordable deal, Kansas City is under no particular pressure to deal the 30-year-old unless the club really wants to sell high. As Feinsand puts it, “the Royals will need to be overwhelmed by an offer to trade” Merrifield.
Besides Mondesi and Dozier, it’s probably safe to assume that other younger, club-controlled Royals players (i.e. Brad Keller, Nicky Lopez, Jakob Junis, Jorge Lopez) are also unavailable in trade talks. Alex Gordon is in the midst of a comeback year, though the veteran has already indicated that he wants to spend his entire career with the Royals, and thus isn’t willing to waive his no-trade production as a 10-and-5 player to approve a swap to a contender.
Beyond that group, any other Royal could potentially be on the trade block. Feinsald cites such notable names as Jorge Soler, Danny Duffy, and Ian Kennedy, though for the latter two players, the Royals would have to eat a big portion of their remaining contracts to accommodate a deal.
Merrifield for. Urias and L Allen seems like a potential blockbuster trade.
Because I’m missing who L Allen is, I’m gonna say this is a prob bad trade…. Urias is fine to add to an offer, but you would have to throw in another prospect that’s solid also. Whits a pretty strong player for cheap
Logan Allen LH pitcher Padres #6 prospect
Top 30 overall prospect that the Royals can afford to have him work through MLB transition and a top 100 prospect who is a nice SP addition to any farm system.
Padres wouldn’t give 2 top prospects like that. They still have time to be patient with Urias and see if he can take the 2B job himself.
Good point rizdak though Merrifield does so many things that go unnoticed in the box score to help a team win not to mention his box scores are impressive as well. I am a Tigers fan so I know how tough an opponent he is. He would make SD a lot better taking over for Kinsler plus he has position flexibility.
Merrifield could play CF while Urias has his chance at 2b.
Padres need a guy at the top of the order who can get on base…only 2b and Cf open for upgrade.
So yeah……Merrifield is a great option.
Merrifield would play CF every day for the Padres no questions asked. He would also be their leadoff hitter in front of Tatis Jr. When he returns.
This is the best/most realistic deal in this post. Kudos. Merrifield goes direct to everyday 2B with SD and Urias same with KC, with Allen going direct into KC’s rotation. Fair trade both sides.
I agree very fair trade.
Urias is the headliner and Logan Allen immediately is their top pitching prospect, most likely inserting into KC’s rotation after the deal. I’d even add Manuel Margot to the deal if KC has interest.
Padres need to figure out CF and the leadoff hole, Merrifield checks both boxes.
Eh, most major league ready for sure, but Brady Singer is and would be still their best pitching prospect.
Would make more sense for SD to just roll with the younger player with more upside that they already have in-house. Especially when you also suggest parting with a top 100 prospect in L. Allen.
Whit Merrifield is a must-have for any team. Get him for just an AAV if $4M these next 3-4 years and he brings a lot of contact, speed, and can play all of the outfield and infield. If I were the Padres who should be contenders soon I wouldn’t mind giving up a few prospects for Merrifield.
Nobody wants Uranus right now because of Domestic Allegations
Wrong Urias.
Also Bily Hamilton,Bullpen pieces,Duda,Maldonado,Cuthbert who was just called back up and so on to. Perez is out for season so that eliminates him.
They would never trade salvy anyway. Moore says he’d never get the package he would want. Plus, salvy is the heart of the royals.
The Pirate fans said that about Andrew McCutcheon also,and look how that trade seems to have worked out.
Everyone has a price.
Perez has been an integral part of the only small market team to have won the WS since 1991.
But can a 19-39 team afford to be picky?
They will not be good for three or four years .Will he still be the heart of the team then?
Well, I imagine he’d like to be a Royal for the rest of his career, get his number retired & have an interactive statue in the outfield experience (that splashes people randomly with water). There are fans still mad we couldn’t keep hosmer, Cain, etc…,though getting two compensation picks last year draft for hosmer & Cain signing for more than 50 million has helped the farm a bit (with the two compensation picks pitching this year at Wilmington, our class A advanced affiliate). Salvy’s knees are a concern in the future as well as his injury history (not counting this year’s tommy John surgery). I don’t know if he could play as long as yadier Molina or joe Mauer though. He’d probably like to remain in some capacity with the royals – perhaps as catching coach. How many teams would be willing to take a chance on him with that injury history that includes an oblique like side strain, a thumb injury & a weird luggage accident.
I don’t like trade talk in June. I’d rather wait until July (July is always the point that you know you’re not going anywhere). I knew the playoffs are a few years away….though I can see a wild card in 2021 IF Dayton Moore doesn’t sign more scrubs like Duda & owings.
The problem is, since KC is a small market, our contention window is smaller. It’s not likely we’d be in playoff contention for multiple years….our last window was 13-16…..17 might have been possible if salvy hadn’t gotten his side injury, etc. though we likely would have lost the WC game anyway with those horrible SD pitchers (Maurer being the worst).
I get the filling the farm….let’s see what they do tomorrow. They are predicted to take Witt, jr in the draft if the orioles take the catcher.
They finally have two top 100 prospects with lynch added at #100 after another graduated.
I know the next few years are going to be tough….I still have hope for 55 wins this year, not a WC (that is a pipe dream). I subscribed to the MiLB.tv so I can watch royals minor league teams. That will cheer me up somewhat anyway,
Not sure why being the heart of a team with no pulse makes a guy that important…
No one is trading for Duda!
Someone did last year.. Probably not for anything of note though
All We got was $….that was it….but Dayton signing him again was stupid. He’s on the IL & doing a rehab start….but if they activate him…..that’ll force a young guy to return to Omaha. I still don’t get why we needed him this year. Alex Gordon is veteran presence. So is Danny Duffy.
Last season and this season has been tough to watch as a Royals fan. Hopefully they get a solid return for Whit that can help speed up the rebuild.
Seems dumb to trade Whit. But send over Diekman to the braves. Much needed…
I would imagine they wouldn’t listen on Sal Perez – thinking they’d be selling low on one of their top players. Yes, he is injured, but considering there is nothing outside of Realmuto’s 2020 free agency in the way of decent catchers in the foreseeable future.
Salvy is hurt & is the heart of the Royals! I could see him being catching coach someday
If Perez wasn’t hurt, he’d be out the door sooner rather than later.
Moore has said he’d require a huge package if he ever considered trading Salvy. Plus he is mentoring his successor mj melendez. Two years left on his contract & that’s likely when melendez is closer to his debut. Too bad salvy has no say
Why is this a 3 paragraph piece on Whitt Merrifield???? Jesus H.
Why do you care so much???? Jesus C.
Because this is a baseball forum and we like to read about baseball players and potential trades.
Jesus A.
…who was on CRACK! Stephen A.
Because the Royals are looking to sell and he’s the one who has potential to bring solid return.
Wouldn’t mind seeing the Sox make a deal for Merrifield. Especially if the deal included some reliever/relievers even though I don’t know who KC has in their bullpen.
It does not seem the Red Sox has the pieces to get Merrifield imo
They don’t have the pieces to acquire Merrifield. They especially don’t have the pieces to bring back relievers with him.
Would love Mondesi and Billy Ham on the Mets to play ss and cf they never had the speed since the young Reyes but to have 2 speedsters at the top of the lineup. I would than trade Nimmo(when he’s back) and Lagares to Cleveland for Bauer. Trade Rosario,Frazier and Wheeler by the deadline.
Would you give up Nimmo and SS Gimenez for Bauer?
I wouldn’t.
yes in a heartbeat. There going to lose Wheeler after this year.
Lagares for Bauer huh? Lol Indians would jump all over that
Mondesi is an untouchable. Billy might be available in July.
“I would than trade Nimmo(when he’s back) and Lagares to Cleveland for Bauer” This is just too funny..hahaha
Mondesi isn’t going anywhere
Lmao do the Indians have any say in that?
Danny has expressed in the past that he wouldn’t want traded, I think Moore would respect his wishes. I also can’t see then trading whit. He’s versatile & we need him. Plus, if we did, we end up with scrub players in his place like owings,
I can only see diekman & maybe boxberger being traded. I can’t see anyone asking for cuthbert….he’s out of minor league options….so I’m not sure how many teams would want him taking a 25 man spot.
The royals are going to do bad with or without whit so it’s best to stock the farm with him. Considering that the royals farm isn’t in very good shape right now it’s a must
It’s improved since last years draft (especially pitching department). It’s not number one, but it’s not in the gutter. The problem is, no prospects are guaranteed so if the Royals DID trade whit, Dayton would definitely want good prospects. And when I say good, I mean equal to tatis, jr & victor Robles & Juan Soto. He might also want someone that can help sooner, so high A level rather than rookie level.
*click*
Keeping most of a team that sucks for sentimental reasons just means you still suck but feel slightly less bad about it…
If the Royals ownership really want to field a consistent competitor, they need to stop being so emo about the team.
Lol do you want to be good in the future? Then you trade him. A 30 yo who has good trade value should not be staying on any rebuilding team.
Merrifield is at peak value and since he is 30 he isn’t part of their long term plans anyway. Trade him while you can. He’s quite the good player
Merrifield: Cubs leadoff role.
It makes a ton of sense for CHC to acquire him to finally settle the leadoff shuffle that has Schwarber once again out of his element in that spot, and the fact that it’s pretty clear Zobrist’s days as a Cub are pretty much over.
thing is the Cubs dont have anything worth trading for him.
I’d be interested in happ+ prospect for merrifield
No thanks, cubs have nothing & I still feel ripped off with the wade Davis trade. Soler strikes out a fair amount though he now has a career high in home runs
This might get laughed at, but I can see the rangers trading odors contract and prospects for merrifield.
Yes this is about as bad as the Addison Russell hope/”you wish” idea below.
Please dont do stuff like this, you just waste bandwidth. Odor is never ever getting traded for Merrifield and the Rangers dont have the prospects either.
The royals are not taking on a ridiculous contract in exchange for whit! We still have Kennedy contract until 2021. We should be able to add payroll in 2022. No to odor.
Don’t the royals think they can compete next year? Why trade Whit if they think that?
Cubs can’t take on Whitfield contract. The Rickets are broke. They are eating Mac and Cheese and washing it down with a white Burgundy.
More like boxed White Zinfandel.
Edible 24 ct gold chips in the mac n cheese
I’m guessing you’ve never bought anything gold with your abbreviation of karat.
Give him a break, it’s probably autocorrect/spellcheck’s fault.
My phone doesn’t autocorrect KT to CT and I’d suspect that no one else’s on planet Earth does either.
Would love to see Whit in a Met uniform. Versatility and Stolen bases make him a big addition.
Are you willing to give up Gimenez and Mauricio for Merrifield?
Cubs should offer Carl Edwards and Addison Russel for Aldaberto Mondesi. Then sign Kimbrel. Acquiring an elite leadoff hitter and quality (healthy) closer should allow them to coast to a division championship, and an NCLS appearance.
I am sure the cubs would offer that but it does not get them Merrifield imo
Try Hoerner and Amaya for Merrifield…Still willing to trade for Merrifield?
If I’m the Cubs, I package OF Happ/RP Edward’s Jr. and 2B/SS Russell (and keep his salary) plus International pool cash for Merrifield.
You have to think from both sides on a trade offer. Why would K.C. want the main piece coming back to be a PC nightmare and years of control that doesn’t fit their rebuild?
You dont come in here and offer trash for treasure, trades dont work like that. Russell is the Cubs problem until they DFA him, his trade value is the lowest in MLB.
You may not like him because of the domestic issue, but Russell and Edwards still have potential. Obviously, the Cubs could offer more to sweeten the deal. Mondesí is the better option over Merrifield, imo.
And there’s no way K.C. is trading Mondesi..period
The Royals don’t want to trade Mondesi in the first place and it’s going to take more than a relief pitcher and a glove first middle infielder with a .709 career OPS, and off field issues.
Fair enough… that’s why I said the Cubs should offer more. I wouldn’t trade Mondesi either, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. These are two issues (closer, leadoff) the Cubs always manage to overlook when addressing needs in the longterm, and it’s bitten them in the behinds repeatedly.
Padres can offer urias and weathers for merrifield.
I agree the Padres have a package the Royals would definitely be interested in, with Urias as the blue chip in the deal.
He plus one of Logan Allen, Ryan Weathers or Cal Quantrill would get KC’s attention.
Good call . Padres should be all over this now and not wait. Urias and one of those pitchers done .
Meriffield and tatis at the top of the order man now you got something.
If Kansas City truly makes Merrifield available with his outstanding contract, many teams will be interested and bidding. It may take more than this to get him.
Terrible. Whit isn’t much (if any) of an upgrade over Urias and then you wanna throw in Weathers on top of that????
He isn’t on this list, but if it’s really a fire sale situation in KC I can see the Dodgers going after Jake Diekman.
I don’t think it’s quite a fire sale…,the royals aren’t the Marlins….but if they were interested in diekman….I’d like another Scott Barlow please!
Merrifield is a solid and obvious trade chip. I can see a lot of teams in on him. I think he gets an organizational top 5 prospect in return.
Agreed, might even a organizational top 3 for matter.
Whit Merrifield would be the perfect solution for the Cubs leadoff hitting woes and also fit the mold of a versatile player that they have preferred in recent years. He could replace Ben Zobrist who may not return to Chicago in the final year of his contract due to his divorce.
Clearly the Royals are in a for a long term rebuild by putting a controllable player like Merrifield up for sale and their apparent lock to select prep SS Bobby Witt Jr. with the overall #2 pick in Monday’s Rule 4 Draft. This suggests any potential deal with the Cubs would need to focus on Chicago’s only two top-100 prospects, INF Nico Hoerner and C Miguel Amaya. Hoerner was drafted as a college SS but most scouts believe he is best suited for 2B in MLB. He would offer the Royals their future double play partner with Witt. Amaya is just 20-years old and still in the early stages of his professional development at the Cubs A+ Myrtle Beach affiliate. He is considered a strong defensive catcher with some decent offensive potential and could be a viable trade chip for the Cubs with Willson Contreras locked in to the position long term.
Adding Merrifield and his cheap contract would also allow the Cubs to use one of their younger players like Kyle Schwarber or Albert Almora as a centerpiece in a trade in order to acquire a much needed closer if they find FA Craig Kimbrel’s asking price too rich for their budget. With this strategy, the Cubs could kill the proverbial two birds with one stone as they fortify their roster in an attempt to win their second championship in four seasons. Adding a LOOGY would to their bullpen would also be nice.
As a Cubs fan I’d love Merrifield
Unfortunately as a rational human being I know it ain’t gonna happen ‘cuz the Cubs don’t have the pieces to get him…
The Royals should have plenty of offers coming in for Merrifield but I do believe that the one I suggested is a fair one considering he is already 30-years old. The Cubs may not want to part with Hoerner who could very well be their own replacement for Zobrist as an advanced college player.
The million dollar question is how badly do the Cubs want to maximize their potential for another World Series title in 2019 and the next couple of years as their window for serious title contention may be nearing its end?
I don’t see why Hoerner and Amaya wouldn’t be a very strong package. Merrifield is a cheap talent but he’s not 22. He’s 30. I think that gets it done.
Is adbert alzolay+Ian happ too much?
Other than Merrifield, seems like KC doesnt have much to trade to expect back value. No trade clauses, high salaries, injuries, and low talent levels.
I mean they have just as many chips as the ChiSox or Tigers. They’re just choosing to build around Mondesi and Dozier. They have some young pitching in the lower minors and the 2nd pick in the draft. When they finally sell Merrifield that’ll even further bolster this rebuild. Really no worse than where the tigers are who haven’t had a single position player look to be a real long term force. They only have had Boyd and Turnbull look to be solid starters and Boyd may soon find himself elsewhere…..Could be either one that climbs themselves out of mediocrity first. Same w the White Sox who have found a few positional players and Giolito but no other pitcher has stepped up or been given a shot yet.
Everyone is available, except the players anyone would want, lol.
Great article.
Well, Alex is the only one with 10/5 rights.
Yeah, and they don’t want to trade young players and need to be “overwhelmed” for Merrifield?
Who exactly is left that has any value?
Maybe Diekman?
That’s “Nearly Everybody”?
Solar and Kennedy are not getting anything.
So who is left? The Royals act like Merrifield is a star player, it’s ridiculou.
He is the star player on that team
Actually, I would call a player who led the American League in base hits last season and stolen bases the last two years as a “star” player. Not to mention he is a very good leadoff hitter & can play all positions except catcher & 1st base well. Merrifield is a .293 lifetime hitter with respectable power (15 to 20HR).
Besides whit, who would a team want? Mondesi? I’d trade him only if Bobby Witt jr is picked AND he turns out to be 1000 times better (he’d have to steal 80 bases a year to be better than mondesi, hit 350 at each level & be so great defensively, that he never makes an error. Oh, and hit 30 home runs at each level. Can Witt,jr do that? Then mondesi could get traded in 3 years.
Keep trading away players for draft picks that you may or may not see 5 years from now. And they wonder why attendance is down?
This makes literally no sense. The Royals are not trading Whit or Gordon or Soler. Whit is the heart of team and the face of Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes of course and they just signed him to an extension and said they wanted to keep him. Gordon has a trade veto in his contract and he won’t go anywhere and Soler is still young and has been very good this year. The offensive is way too good to break up. This team offensively is easily ready for contention. The pitching staff is awful and needs serious upgrades. The only trade pieces are Billy Hamilton and Diekman. Maybe Kennedy if a team is desperate for a reliever. I personally think that the core of Merrifield, Mondesi, Dozier, Soler, Lopez, Gordon and of course when Perez comes back next year this is a playoff team if they can get a lot better pitching.
Do the Royals have anything that could get Frazier from the Yankees? They don’t have a spot for him and the Royals need outfield help