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Whit Merrifield 2023 MLB Player Outlook: Playing Time Concerns But Leaves Door Open To Value
2 years agoWhit Merrifield was in the midst of a down year with the Royals before he was traded to the Blue Jays and while his numbers improved in Toronto, his playing time dropped leaving concerns he won't be a full-time player in 2023. Merrifield hit .240/.290/.352 with six homers, 42 RBI, 51 runs and 15 steals in 95 games (420 plate appearances) for the Royals then hit .281/.323/.446 with .281/.323/.446 with five homers 16 RBI, 19 runs and one steal in 44 games (130 plate appearances) with the Blue Jays. The days of 40 stolen bases appear to be gone and at 34 years old, it's likely Merrifield's best seasons are behind him. But he still ranked in the 84th percentile for sprint speed and continues to put the ball in play, with a 15.5% K% (85th percentile). On paper, Merrifield should be the Blue Jays primary second baseman in 2023 but they didn't seem too set on that after trading for him last year. With an ADP of ~191, Merrifield doesn't need to steal 40 bases or be an ironman to provide fantasy value, as long as he hits as well as he did following the trade and the Blue Jays don't sit him more than once a week.
