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Chicago Cubs: Will Whit finally get traded to the Cubs?
While this one has been rumored forever and doesn’t seem to have a lot of traction, there’s been plenty enough smoke to start a fire eventually here. Whit Merrifield checks some boxes for the Cubs for sure. You can slot him in centerfield or second base, or maybe even a combination of the two, using him in a Ben Zobrist-like swiss army knife role. The Cubs can also use Merrifield to get on base at the top of the lineup and would love his contact ability amongst all their other swing-and-miss mashers.
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206 hits and 105 runs last year proves Merrifield knows how to hit his way on and then find his way to the plate once he’s there. That’s a skill the Cubs need desperately at the top of the lineup in front of guys like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Baez, Kyle Schwarber, and Willson Contreras. This is why the Cubs have been linked to the 31 year old so often in trade rumors over the last couple seasons.
Why would the Royals part with Merrifield, especially given the fact that he’s signed to an extremely team-friendly deal? Quite frankly, it’s because he’s the only trade chip the Royals have, and they’re not winning any time soon.
If Royals GM Dayton Moore wants to get something back for future use, why not pull the trigger while he still can? After all, Merrifield’s stolen bases and speed seem to be waning as he enters his thirties and he’s not going to get any faster at this point.
The Cubs start the trade with Nico Hoerner, their top infield prospect, and also add in outfield prospect Brennen Davis. That’s two top five prospects the Cubs would be sending to Kansas City, plus one of the pitching prospects like a Kohl Franklin, Cory Abbott, or Riley Thompson. Get ‘er done.