Royals send Whit Merrifield to Blue Jays for 2 players

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whit Merrifield stated final month he may be prepared to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 if it meant enjoying for a crew in rivalry, although he had refused to get the shot whereas enjoying for the last-place Kansas Metropolis Royals.

He’ll must make that call now.

In a novel and doubtlessly unprecedented state of affairs, the Royals traded Merrifield to the Toronto Blue Jays simply minutes earlier than the commerce deadline Tuesday. And if the two-time All-Star desires to play any video games in Canada down the stretch, Merrifield will probably be required to get one of many accepted vaccines to enter the nation.

“We’ll let him work by way of that along with his household,” Blue Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins stated, whereas declining further touch upon the matter. “We felt like we made an excellent crew higher at this time.”

Merrifield was amongst 10 gamers on the Royals who have been unvaccinated final month, stopping them from making their journey to Toronto. When requested about his resolution, Merrifield drew the ire of Kansas Metropolis followers by saying: “One thing occurs and I occur to get on a crew that has an opportunity to go play in Canada within the postseason, perhaps that adjustments.”

Many took that to imply Merrifield was unwilling to get vaccinated for his present crew however would for another person.

“The extent of our dialog with Whit and his vaccination standing ended once we have been going to Toronto as a result of after that it didn’t impact us,” Royals common supervisor J.J. Picollo stated. “The conversations we had with Toronto, I’m going to maintain personal. There’s no want for me to speak a few participant on one other crew.“

The Royals acquired within the deal speedy teen Samad Taylor and right-hander Max Castillo, each of whom might assist their huge league crew as early as this season. The 24-year-old Taylor is hitting .258 with 9 homers and 23 stolen bases in 70 video games for Triple-A Buffalo whereas the 23-year-old Castillo has a 3.05 ERA in 9 appearances for Toronto.

The deal additionally creates extra alternatives for the Royals’ younger core to play collectively.

The 33-year-old Merrifield was hitting simply .240 with 30 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases in 95 video games this season. However he has confirmed to be reliable, enjoying each sport for Kansas Metropolis every of the previous three seasons, and he’s twice led the league in hits, led the league in stolen bases thrice and had an AL-leading 42 doubles final season.

Merrifield is making $7 million this season and is due $2.75 million subsequent season together with a $4 million bonus for spending fewer than 110 days on the injured record in 2022. He has an $18 million mutual possibility for 2024 with a $500,000 buyout.

“I like Whit. I like him as a participant. I like him as an individual,” Royals supervisor Mike Matheny stated earlier than their sport in opposition to the White Sox in Chicago. “However I additionally notice that it’s not a shock. This dialog began a very long time in the past.”

Toronto, which started Tuesday with a three-game lead over Tampa Bay for the AL’s prime wild card, was lacking outfielder George Springer within the lineup for the third time within the final 4 video games in opposition to the Rays resulting from a proper elbow damage.

Blue Jays interim supervisor John Schneider stated Springer will probably be re-evaluated Wednesday.

“He’s going to do some stuff on the sector at this time after which sort of revisit it,“ Schneider stated, ”but it surely’s not something concrete proper now. You undoubtedly need to put him in a spot to be good, have success and assist us, so we’re hopeful that all the pieces goes good. We hope it’s not something loopy the place it’s going to hinder him and his efficiency and us.”

It was a busy day for the Blue Jays, who bought relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop together with a participant to be named later from Miami for shortstop prospect Jordan Groshans; right-hander Mitch White and infielder Alex DeJesus from the Dodgers for right-hander Nick Frasso and left-hander Moises Brito; despatched right-hander Jeremy Beasley to Pittsburgh for money; recalled left-hander Matt Gage from Buffalo; and designated left-hander Anthony Banda for task.

Bass is 2-3 with 1.41 ERA in 45 video games for Miami whereas Pop is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA over 18 outings.

“Two guys that throw exhausting,” Schneider stated. “Something to sort of praise what we’ve got is superior.”

The Royals have been much less busy than many anticipated forward of the deadline, although they did swing a late commerce with the Padres by sending backup catcher Cam Gallagher to San Diego for minor league outfielder Brent Rooker.

Gallagher performed in simply 18 video games for Kansas Metropolis this season, ceding the job behind Salvador Perez to rising prospect MJ Melendez. The 27-year-old Rooker was hitting .272 with 19 homers in 61 video games for Triple-A El Paso this season.

“I used to be shocked. It’s a enterprise. I really like the Royals. I’ll keep in mind all of the reminiscences, and I’ll be rooting for them,” stated Gallagher, who spent components of six seasons in Kansas Metropolis. “However on the finish of the day, it’s a brand new alternative for me.”

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AP Sports activities Author Andrew Seligman in Chicago and AP freelance author Mark Didtler in Tampa, Florida, contributed.

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Extra AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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