That indicates he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time - and was thus ineligible to cross the border - but Merrifield indicated he was open to receiving the vaccine to contribute to a playoff contender.

The Jays are a bit of a surprising destination for Merrifield, who was placed on the restricted list during a recent series while still with K.C. Merrifield adds some cover there while also adding some extra right-handed depth to a bench that currently skews left-handed. Santiago Espinal has had a nice season overall as the Jays primary second baseman, but he slumped offensively in July. Public defensive metrics have been mixed on his performance at the keystone so far this season, but he’s typically a highly-regarded defender there. The 33-year-old is also a versatile defensive option capable of covering either of second base or in corner outfield. He’s connected on just six home runs, but Merrifield brings a high-contact bat to the Jays lineup. 266/.315/.397 mark, striking out in only 14.9% of his plate appearances. From May 1 onwards, he has a roughly league average. 240/.290/.352 through 420 plate appearances, although that’s largely a reflection of a dismal April in which he hit. Merrifield’s production has continued to fall this year, as he’s amidst the worst offensive season of his career. As recently as last season, he paced the circuit in doubles and swiped 40 bags, although his overall offensive output had begun to dip. Merrifield twice led the American League in steals, twice more led the league in hits and was selected to a pair of All-Star Games. He’d spent the next few seasons as a top-of-the-order presence and consistently productive contact hitter. He reached the big leagues in 2016 and had cemented himself as a regular by the following season.

The deal officially ends a run of more than a decade in the Kansas City organization for Merrifield, who entered pro ball as a 2010 draftee. The Blue Jays announced they’ve acquired infielder Whit Merrifieldfrom the Royals, with right-hander Max Castilloand minor league infielder Samad Taylorgoing to Kansas City, Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023.

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