Blue Jays Acquire Infielder/Outfielder Whit Merrifield

Merrifield Traded to Blue Jays Ahead of Trade Deadline

Merrifield Acquired from Royals for Samad Taylor

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Samad Taylor, the team announced Tuesday.

Merrifield, 33, is a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner who has spent his entire career with the Royals. He is a career .292 hitter with 111 home runs and 439 stolen bases.

Merrifield is expected to play a variety of positions for the Blue Jays, including second base, third base, and outfield. He will provide the team with a much-needed boost of offense and defense.

In return for Merrifield, the Royals will receive Taylor, a 24-year-old outfielder who was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2020. Taylor has spent the majority of the 2022 season with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, where he has hit .263 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs.

The trade is a significant one for both the Blue Jays and the Royals. The Blue Jays are looking to make a run at the playoffs this season, and Merrifield is a player who can help them do that. The Royals, on the other hand, are rebuilding, and Taylor is a player who can help them develop a young core for the future.