Former Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays Stalwart Moving Closer to Free Agency Decision
Former Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays' standout Whit Merrifield reportedly could be close to choosing his next team.
Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com:
Free agent Whit Merrifield is moving closer to a decision, source says, and is expected to agree to terms by the end of the weekend. Merrifield’s market has picked up in recent days, with 5 teams showing varying levels of interest.
Obviously, Morosi didn't name the specific teams that are interested, but Merrifield could be appealing to any team that needs a top-of-the-order bat or defensive versatility.
The 35-year-old is coming off a productive year for Toronto in which he hit .272 with 11 homers, 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases. He and the Blue Jays mutually declined his player option at the outset of the offseason, which is what led him to free agency.
Given the rule changes in 2023, Merrifield should continue to be a useful player because of his speed and ability to steal bases. He made the All-Star team in the American League for the third time in his career in 2023.
Having just wrapped up his eighth year in the big leagues, Merrifield has been one of the most productive players in the league over the last several years. He led baseball in hits during the 2018 and 2019 seasons with Kansas City and is also a three-time stolen base champion.
He played with the Royals from 2016-2022. He was traded to Toronto midway through the 2022 season and was part of two Blue Jays' playoff teams.
Merrifield is a lifetime .284 hitter with a .330 on-base percentage.
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