Royals Rumors: Exploring three potential Whit Merrifield trades

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 25: Kansas City Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield (15) raises his hands to signal "Vroom Vroom" from the dugout during an interleague MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals on September 25, 2019 at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Brice Turang #1 of the USA Baseball 18U National Team (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers

Brice Turang SS/2B – 20 years old for 2020 season
Corey Ray OF – 25 years old for 2020 season
Aaron Ashby LHP – 22 years old for 2020 season
Drew Rasmussen RHP – 24 years old for 2020 season

Brice Turang is a plus hit and speed combination player, who can play above-average defense in the middle infield and exhibits a plus arm. Turang has plus speed to steal 25 bases per year and projects have plus hit and average power tools to generate a .270 average and 11-14 dingers per year. He has advanced plate discipline and should be able to generate an OBP 80 points above his batting average. ETA – 2022

Corey Ray is a power and speed combination prospect, who has the ceiling of an above average everyday player and the floor of a fourth outfielder. Ray is an above-average defender with an above average arm capable of playing each of the outfield positions.

He has plus speed to steal 25+ bases per year and projects to have an average hit tool and plus power to generate a .250 average and 19-22 home runs per year. There’s some swing and miss to his game, but he has enough plate discipline to generate an OBP 60 points above his batting average. ETA – 2020

Aaron Ashby, the nephew of retired 14-year MLB pitcher Andy Ashby, features an above average fastball (typically around 91-94 mph, tops 96 mph), an absolutely nasty plus curveball that he manipulates the speed on to get horizontal movement, and an above average change-up.

Ashby has a unique delivery that generates plenty of deception, which can cause his control to falter at times, but with his delivery combined with his plus stuff he could have a ceiling as a three or four type starter in the majors. ETA – 2021

Drew Rasmussen unleashes an impressive mix of power pitches with plus fastball (mid to upper 90s mph with movement), an above average hard slider he throws between 88-91 mph, and an improved upper 80s mph change-up. Rasmussen has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow and my ultimately end up as a dominate bullpen arm if he can stay healthy. ETA – 2020

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