The Blue Jays’ decision to acquire Whit Merrifield seemed to come out of left field. But even before the previously unvaccinated super utilityman announced Thursday he is eligible to play in Canada, it was easy to understand what the front office was trying to accomplish.
The priority going into Tuesday’s trade deadline was for the Jays to add a starting pitcher and a couple of high-leverage arms for the bullpen. Beyond those obvious needs, general manager Ross Atkins wanted to strengthen his lineup and offer additional protection at key positions.
One assumed the move would be for a left-handed hitter such as Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, who could have provided more balance to a predominantly right-handed hitting team. When that trade and possibly others like it didn’t materialize, the Jays turned to Kansas City for a different type of player entirely.
Merrifield might not be the lefty bat the Jays wanted, but he checks a lot of boxes. The 33-year-old is a versatile defender who can be used all over the field, an attribute the front office covets. He’s a threat to run and doesn’t strike out a lot. There are elements to his game that the Jays don’t possess elsewhere.
“We have a lot of power hitters in our lineup,†Jays right-fielder Teoscar Hernández said. “He’s a guy who’s always going to be on base. He’s a fast runner. He takes some good at-bats and steals some bases, so that’s an advantage for us. Most of the time he’s going to be on base and he’s going to try to steal second. We’re going to have more men in scoring position.â€
Hernández is being too kind. Merrifield has enjoyed lots of success throughout his career, but he doesn’t always get on base or anything close to it. Sure, he was the American League hits leader in back-to-back seasons, but the last time he did it was three years ago and the production hasn’t been nearly as good since.
In 95 games for the Royals this season, Merrifield hit .240 with a .290 on-base percentage, well below the major-league average of .312. Last year was better with a .277 average and .317 OBP, yet even those numbers weren’t close to what he produced during his banner years in 2018-19. He still has a long way to go to get back to where he was.
While there shouldn’t be an expectation of a plus bat, Merrifield does raise the Jays’ floor. His speed and ability to play centre offers further protection for George Springer. If an infielder gets hurt, manager John Schneider won’t be forced to use an untested prospect in the heat of a pennant race.
The biggest challenge for the coaching staff will be making all the pieces fit. Not only do the Jays have to find opportunities for Merrifield, but they also must give playing time to Cavan Biggio and Raimel Tapia, who also play multiple spots.
One area to keep an eye on for an expanded role is second base, where Santiago Espinal was batting .238 with a .563 on-base plus slugging percentage since July 1, heading into Thursday’s game. Over that same span, Merrifield was batting .284 with an .847 OPS. They should push each other for at-bats.
“It’s finding the right spots for guys every day and trying to plan ahead a little bit,†Schneider said. “I think the way that we’re rolling right now, when you get contributions from a lot of different people in a lot of different ways, adding a guy like (Merrifield) with his versatility and skill set, it’s a good problem to have.â€
Merrifield is having a down season and might be a few years removed from his prime, but there’s no denying he has an accomplished resumé. He’s a two-time all-star, three-time AL stolen base leader and former winner of a Fielding Bible Award.
Despite a toe injury that sidelined him for two weeks earlier this year, Merrifield also has proven to be as durable as they come. From 2019-21, he didn’t miss a game. The two years prior, he appeared in at least 145. The physical demands should be less in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, but the ability to play through aches and pains will prove beneficial no matter the role.
“He’s definitely accomplished a lot ... and he’s been around,†Jays shortstop Bo Bichette said. “I think it’s important for all of us to learn as much as we can from him, and excited to see what he can bring. For me personally, I’m definitely excited to be around him, talk and play ball with him.â€
There was a lot of talk from the Jays this week about how pleased they were to add “complementary players†to their promising core. It’s entirely possible the secondary adds won’t be enough, especially considering some rivals traded for more high-end talent. The bullpen remains a concern and the back end of the rotation is questionable, but on the position player side the Jays didn’t need another star; they just needed another member for the supporting cast.
In ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, Merrifield will have an opportunity for a fresh start, one he desperately needs.
The former ninth-round pick used to be a fan favourite in Kansas City, but lost some of that support earlier this year when he missed a series against the Jays because he wasn’t vaccinated. Merrifield’s “personal health decision†wasn’t so much the issue south of the border, but his comments about how he’d be open to getting the shot if he played for a contender were.
The insinuation was that the Royals weren’t good enough for his absence to matter, which was taken a slap in the face to those who cheered for him. His GM, Dayton Moore, said the comments made him feel “disgusted.†It was a bad look all around, but one that won’t be an issue with the Jays after he told reporters in Minneapolis he is now vaccinated and will join his teammates when they return home Aug. 11.
“I’ve understood for a couple weeks now that this might be a possibility,†Merrifield told the media at Target Field on Thursday afternoon. “I’ll be in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ when the team is there.â€
For the Jays, the vaccine controversy is in the past and one they never had anything to do with in the first place. Merrifield, as a guy who has never appeared in the post-season, should be ready to move on, too.
The veteran infielder/outfielder will be hoping for a deep run into October, and now he’s got the required shot to make it happen.
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