Kansas City Royals: Should Whit Merrifield be traded in the offseason?

The Kansas City Royals are officially in the midst of a rebuild. They traded away Mike Moustakas already, but could trading another veteran player in Whit Merrifield hold benefits that outweigh what he brings to the team?

Whit Merrifield was one of the bright spots in the Kansas City Royals lineup during the 2018 season. When there were talks of possibly trading him away at both trade deadlines, there was outrage from fans.

Merrifield’s 2018 season

Through 158 games, Merrifield slashed .304/.367/.438. He tallied 12 home runs, scored 88 runs, and knocked in 60 RBI’s.

He led the American League in both hits and stolen bases during the 2018 season, recording 192 hits and 45 stolen bases.

So, yeah, he had a good year even though the Royals struggled. This is only his third year in the Major Leagues, so he still has the potential to be around for a while.

Will he be traded?

Merrifield may still be traded away during the offseason, though many do not wish to believe it. If he does remain a member of the Kansas City Royals, the middle infield will consist of Merrifield at second and Adalberto Mondesi and short. It’s sort of exciting to think about.

At the same time, if they want to head into a full-blown rebuild, Merrifield is already 29 years old. Though he has only been in the majors for three seasons, it’s possible the organization would want to find a more youthful option.

There are other middle infield options moving through the farm system, including Nicky Lopez. But, it would be best to keep Merrifield around rather than trading him away to help bolster the rebuild. I think he can play a big role, along with Salvador Perez, in helping to develop and mentor the younger players.

Merrifield would likely play a vital role if he is kept around, though there is still that chance that the organization may choose to trade him.