San Diego Padres: What it would cost to trade for Whit Merrifield

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Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals Padres (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

After recent rumors of the San Diego Padres being interested in trading for Whit Merrifield, we talked with Kings of Kaufmann to see what it might cost.

A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres continue scouring the trade market this offseason to improve this team for the upcoming season and beyond.

There might not be a single player available that fits the profile of what the Padres need more than Whit Merrifield.

And if you think I’m overselling the 30-year-old utility player, just look at his numbers and his contract … they speak for themself.

Merrifield was a bit of a late bloomer coming out of South Carolina. It took him six-plus seasons to finally get a shot in the big leagues in 2016.

He put up a 1.5 WAR in that first season in just 81 games with the Kansas City Royals.

Since then he’s had three straight seasons of being at least a 2.8 WAR player, according to FanGraphs.

He was a 5.2 WAR player in 2018 when he hit .304 with a .367 OBP to go along with 12 home runs and 45 stolen bases.

This past season he hit .302/.348 with 16 home runs, 105 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases.

Merrifield has spent plenty of time at second base and center field, which is the two primary needs for the Padres right now.

His team-friendly contract has him under team control for at least three more seasons for a total of $14.5 million with a team option for $10.5 million in 2023.

The guy hits, steals bases, plays two positions of need, is under team control for three more years, and is not expensive. It seems like a no-brainer for me if the Royals are willing to part with him.

Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

What’s the cost?

Because of all the great things I just said about Merrifield, the Royals just obviously aren’t going to give him away. In fact, they appear to value him even more because of what he means in their clubhouse.

To pry him away it’s going to take an overpay.

We reached out to our friends at Kings of Kauffman to get their opinion on what it might take to get a deal done for Merrifield.

Related Story. Don't put much stock in SD/Whit rumors. light

Site expert Jordan Foote from Kings of Kaufmann reached out and gave me his thoughts on a potential deal.

First off, let’s forget the thought that the Royals would be willing to take on Wil Myers and his terrible contract.

Jordan believes the Royals’ main goal is to keep payroll low and taking on Myers’ contract wouldn’t fit into that plan and he doesn’t make any sense for Kansas City.

What the Royals most likely would want for Merrifield is “three MLB-ready prospects,” according to Jordan.

Although, he says he’d settle for a couple of top prospects and a lower level prospect with some upside.

He predicts that a straight-up Luis Patino for Merrifield trade might get it done — and would in his eyes. But I suspect many Padres fan would balk at that idea.

A more likely package the Padres would consider that Jordan also suggests is a package built around Adrian Morejon, Ryan Weathers, and Michel Baez.

Jordan suspects that two of those top pitching prospects along with another lower-level prospect could get a deal done.

Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Should the Padres do it?

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Again, I believe Merrifield is a great fit for what the Padres need and the type of player they need in the clubhouse. Somebody that’s going to grind out at-bats and give you 110 percent every time he’s on the field.

If the Padres can get him for two of Morejon/Weathers/Baez and another lower-level prospect, I do that deal all day if I’m the Padres.

However, I find it hard to believe that the Royals are going to part with Merrifield without getting one of the Padres top five prospects.

Honestly, I’d give them whoever they want except for MacKenzie Gore and Patino. You could maybe include CJ Abrams in that untouchable list as well.

But in my opinion, everyone else is up for grabs in a trade for Merrifield.

If the Padres can get a deal done without giving up those three prospects, sign me up right now.

I get it would be a hefty cost giving up two top 10 prospects for essentially an ultra utility player, but it’s hard to find many 3-5 WAR players making as little as he is for the next three seasons.

Could you imagine a lineup with Fernando Tatis Jr., Merrifield, and Tommy Pham at the top with Manny Machado driving them in?

dark. Next. Winter Meetings: What we learned

It’s going to take a lot to pry him away from the Royals, but the Padres have the prospect depth to get it done and I believe they should.

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After recent rumors of the San Diego Padres being interested in trading for Whit Merrifield, we talked with Kings of Kaufmann to see what it might cost.

What’s the cost?

Should the Padres do it?

More from Friars on Base

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