Subscribe
Follow Us
With the MLB trade deadline less than a month away, rumors are beginning to swirl. Given the fact that the MLB inserted an extra wild card, there could perhaps be more teams looking to buy rather than sell, thinking they will have an outside shot at the postseason.
That means that players potentially on the move will be in even greater demand than ever. One team that is certainly selling, the 34-53 Kansas City Royals, just so happen to have a few valuable trade chips. One of them, Whit Merrifield, is a player who should be of interest to many contenders.
And the 33-year-old Merrifield doesn't exactly fit into the Royals' rebuilding timeline. But where could he be dealt if the club decides to move on from him at the 2022 MLB trade deadline. That's what we'll discuss here.
Without further ado, here are the three best destinations for Whit Merrifield if the Royals decide to move him at the MLB trade deadline.
*Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 Best Destinations For Whit Merrifield At MLB Trade Deadline
3. Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have been one of the better teams in baseball this year, having posted a 49-39 record thus far, good for first place in the National League Central.
However, the Brewers have a problem. Their mighty pitching staff, besides ace Corbin Burnes, has underachieved so far in 2022. That's put a lot of pressure on the Milwaukee offense, which ranks as the MLB's 10th-best.
Two areas in the lineup could use an upgrade. Milwaukee's outfield has been a bit shaky, relying on the injury prone Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe, who is having a fine year.
The Brewers could use some extra depth in the outfield. Not only that, but one of the most strikeout-prone teams in the big leagues could benefit from a hitter with a different approach.
That hitter is Whit Merrifield. Merrifield, who has posted a 14.5 percent strikeout rate, is a master at putting the ball in play. That would play very well in a Brewers lineup that has too much swing-and-miss in it.
He'd also be a more natural fit at the leadoff spot than Yelich, who the team has slotted in as their table-setter recently. Milwaukee should look into a Merrifield deal at the MLB trade deadline.
2. Padres
The San Diego Padres are attempting to keep pace with the powerful Los Angeles Dodgers out west. Not an easy task. San Diego will be getting superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. back from a wrist injury at some point, which will undoubtedly help them climb up the standings.
Yet the Padres' outfield is forcing them into a bit of a precarious position with Tatis. The star shortstop, who was tried out in the outfield briefly last season, has been floated as a possible outfielder again when he returns.
That is entirely too risky for Tatis, who fractured his wrist in an offseason motorcycle accident. Do they really want him playing the outfield after that? They shouldn't.
It's no small wonder that the team has looked into a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Bryan Reynolds and New York Yankees slugger Joey Gallo. The team desperately needs more depth- and an infusion of offensive talent not named Jurickson Profar.
Well, Reynolds' trade value could take a hit after he landed on the injured list with an oblique ailment. Could the Padres pivot to Royals outfielder Andrew Benintendi? That would be wise- or they could look to his teammate, Whit Merrifield. Merrifield is also dealing with an injury, though he has avoided the injured list so far.
Merrifield's speed would play well in a San Diego lineup that ranks among the worst in base-stealing.
As a proven hitter for average throughout his career, he would (hopefully) be a better source of outfield offense for the Padres, despite his slump this year. Merrifield would make a lot of sense for San Diego.
1. Braves
The defending champion Atlanta Braves have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since June, as they have exploded up the standings to a 53-36 record, good for second in the National League East.
Atlanta just so happens to have needs at two positions that Royals outfielder and second baseman Whit Merrifield can play. Second baseman Ozzie Albies fractured his foot in June and will be out until at least mid-August. The Braves outfield, aside from injury-prone superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., has not been great.
Eddie Rosario has battled vision issues. Adam Duvall is barely batting above .200. Youngster Michael Harris Jr. has shown immediate promise in center.
However, it's clear that Atlanta could not only use a player- not Robinson Cano- to help get them through Albies' absence- and beyond. Whit Merrifield, whose ability to put the ball in play would help a strikeout-prone Braves team, makes perfect sense as an MLB trade deadline target.
