Kansas City Royals: Five more trade scenarios for 2019
By Cullen Jekel
The Cubs have at least $39 million coming off the books after 2019 with just three players having contracts expire: Cole Hamels, Ben Zobrist, and Steve Cishek. With inevitable raises to younger stars like Kris Bryant and Javier Baez, among others, not all of that money will be allocated to acquiring new players.
But with acquiring Whit Merrifield now, the Cubs would land an impact All-Star with one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league. And Merrifield would be a superb upgrade over the Cubs’ current crop of second basemen, led by Daniel Descalso and Addison Russell.
Here’s where Merrifield ranks among current Cubs in 2019 offensive categories:
- Runs: 62, 2nd.
- Hits: 117, 1st.
- Doubles: 25, 2nd.
- Triples: 7, 1st.
- Home Runs: 11, 7th.
- Runs Batted In: 44, T-4th.
- Stolen Bases: 13, 1st.
- Batting Average: .306, 1st.
- On-Base Percentage: .355, T-4th.
- Slugging Percentage: .495, 5th.
- OPS: .850, 5th.
- OPS+: 123, 4th.
- Total Bases: 189, 2nd.
- WAR: 2.4, T-4th.
That’s one hell of a player, and I didn’t even mention that Merrifield, in 2019 alone, has played five different positions.
The point is, and we here in Kansas City already knew this: Merrifield is an incredible baseball player on an amazing deal. If the Kansas City Royals decided to move him right now, they would get a haul in return. And that’s exactly what I have them getting from the Cubs in this deal.
Nico Hoerner is a 22-year-old shortstop hitting .282/.358/.494 in Double-A. Drafted in the first round in 2018 out of Stanford, Hoerner is ranked by 2080 Baseball as the Cubs’ number two prospect and by MLB Pipeline as the team’s number one prospect.
MLB Pipeline grades his hit as a 60, run a 55, and arm and field as 50s. 2080 writes that Hoerner could eventually move to second base, adding that “Hoerner’s best attribute is his feel at the plate, as a smooth stroke with impressive barrel control provides the foundation for a potential plus hit tool and surprising power potential.”
Miguel Amaya is a 20-year-old catcher currently playing in Advanced-A ball in Myrtle Beach. He’s ranked as the team’s top prospect by 2080 Baseball and as the team’s second best prospect by MLB Pipeline. 2080 puts his estimated time of arrival in the Majors as 2022, so he still has some time to develop. The site gushes about him:
"He’s one of baseball’s best catching prospects, a potential plus offensive producer for the position with above-average defensive tools. His muscular build is well-suited for the rigors of catching, with soft hands and a good sense of how to frame pitches."
The third prospect heading to Kansas City for Merrifield is right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson, currently Hoerner’s teammate in Double-A Tennessee. 2080 ranks Thompson as the team’s number 15 prospect while MLB Pipeline is slightly higher on him, slotting him at number 10.
His curve and slider are rated as 55 by MLB Pipeline, as is his control. About him, 2080 noted: “The fastball sits in the low-90s with sink, backed up by an average curve and decent slider and changeup. He doesn’t have a super high ceiling (but) could move quickly.”
In summary:
- The Cubs, who are barely holding on to the lead in the National League Central, a tight division from top to bottom with all five teams within 4.5 games of each other, land one of the game’s premiere (and underrated) players in Whit Merrifield, who’s under team-control through at least the next three seasons at no more than $6.75 million per season.
- The Royals land the Cubs’ numbers one, two, and 15 prospects, ranging in ages from 20 to 24, and none of whom have yet appeared in the Majors.