Kansas City Royals: Two potential trades involving Whit Merrifield

• Estevan Florial, OF – 23 years old for 2021 season
• Josh Smith, SS/2B – 23 years old for 2021 season
• Kevin Alcantara, OF – 18 years old for 2021 season

Estevan Florial has some of the best tools in the Yankees farm system, but has struggled at times due to an aggressive plate approach. Florial has plus run, arm, and field tools to supplement his above-average power. His aggressive plate approach limits his hit tool to slight below average.

If he can get better at pitch recognition, he has the power and speed combination to hit 30 homeruns and steal 30 bases. He has the range and more than enough arm to handle centerfield duties. Florial is a bit of lottery ticket who needs to adjust his approach to have more success.

He made his debut in 2020 with the Yankees suffering another rash of injuries to their outfield. Florial projects to be a slightly above-average MLB regular in centerfield. There is more offensive projection there to make Florial a potential star player.

Josh Smith has solid tools across the board and should move quickly through the farm system once baseball operations resume in full. Smith has above average hit, run, and arm tools. He is slight above-average with his fielding and he has average power.

He has an advanced plate approach, which could allow him to generate a high batting average and excellent on-base percentage. Smith is capable of a .270 batting average, with a .340 OBP, with 11-14 HRs, and 10-15 stolen bases per season. He is a smart player and should rapidly progress in any system. ETA 2022 with a projection to be an average every day regular at second base.

Kevin Alcantara is as big a lottery ticket as you will find in the MLB farm system. The high ceiling 6’6” outfielder has plenty of room for physical projection. He could have plus tools in every category with his power having the potential to be special.

Alcantara is still very young and raw. If he can utilize his baseball intelligence and work-ethic, he should develop into a .260 hitter, with 23-27 homeruns, with 10-15 stolen bases, with above-average defense in a corner outfield position. There is room for much more offensive if matures physically and develops good plate discipline. ETA 2023 with a projection to be an above-average every day regular in right field.

Recent trade outcomes to hope for

December 2013

Chicago White Sox traded Adam Eaton Outfielder (27-years-old) to Washington Nationals for Dane Dunning (Pitcher), Lucas Giolito (Pitcher), and Reynaldo Lopez (Pitcher)

• Adam Eaton was on a very team friendly contract like Merrifield’s current contract. Eaton was younger at the time of the trade, but did not have the consistent performance track record as Merrifield.

July 2015

Milwaukee Brewers traded Carlos Gomez Outfielder (29-years-old) with Mike Fiers Pitcher to Houston Astros for Josh Hader (Reliever), Adrian Houser (Pitcher), Brett Phillips (Outfielder), and Domingo Santana (Outfielder).

• Carlos Gomez nearly ended up with the Mets in 2015 in nixed deal that included Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler headed back to Milwaukee. A trade like the Brewers-Astros deal in 2015 is possible for Merrifield if he is also paired with a pitcher (Danny Duffy).

Next up, we will explore trades for catcher Salvador Perez.