3 current Royals players Yankees should be glad they didn’t trade for

The New York Yankees begin their road trip in Kansas City on Friday night to kick off a three-game set with the Royals, a team that fans identified as a viable trade partner these last two seasons.

This is no longer the 2015-2016 KC squad that pestered all of MLB with its aggressive hitting and electrifying pitching. This is largely the punching bag version that existed for about 30 years, with their previous playoff drought lasting from 1986-2013. Brutal stuff.

Perhaps they’re beginning to turn it around, but it was evident the Royals possessed assets that might’ve intrigued a number of contenders to surrender top prospects. Instead, Kansas City largely kept everything intact and a deal with the Yankees never came to fruition.

But maybe that was for the best — at least from New York’s perspective. The Yankees are tops in the American League right now, leading the way in ERA and OPS (second, just behind the Angels). As of now, fans wouldn’t want to change a thing, but, of course, we know that narrative can flip in the blink of an eye.

Then again, don’t you kind of love this team? Outside of Joey Gallo, maybe, since he’s been the sole source of frustration in the early going? Fans would be hard-pressed to imagine a much better scenario than what the Yankees have at the moment.

That’s why everyone should be glad the Yankees didn’t trade for these Royals players many clamored for the past two years … because they would’ve upended the team’s plans one way or another.

3. Nicky Lopez

Most Yankees fans simply wanted a defensive wizard at shortstop with speed and a semblance of a bat. Nope, not Andrelton Simmons. Never.

Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez felt like the necessary (and cooler) step above Simmons, who has done nothing but regress these last few years. Lopez is 27 years old, has a sterling glove, and just registered a career year at the plate in 2021.

He hit .300 with a 103 OPS+ and stole 22 bags in 151 games. That’s even more than what the Yankees needed at the bottom of the lineup. And the Royals had three shortstops (Adalberto Mondesi and Bobby Witt Jr.) on the roster heading into 2022, so why not trade one?

Well, good thing Isiah Kiner-Falefa is in town, because fans would’ve been upset with Lopez’s start to the year (.200 average, .680 OPS, six runs scored, two RBI, zero stolen bases and a -0.3 dWAR). IKF? A beautiful 0.4 dWAR, .298 average, 108 OPS+, 10 runs scored, five RBI and two stolen bags.

Happy with Cashman’s decision to seemingly acquire the right guy for the job.

2. Whit Merrifield

Whit Merrifield is a very good baseball player. He’s got great instincts on offense and defense, and is one of the most aggressive/smart/speedy baserunners in the sport. However, his production seems to be dipping.

Though on a very team-friendly contract (four years, $16.25 million, with an $18 million mutual option for 2024), the Yankees’ problem right now is having too many starting-caliber players for too few spots. And would they really be playing Merrifield over Gallo in left field right now? No shot.

There’s been enough of an infield logjam as well with DJ LeMahieu, Josh Donaldson, IKF and Gleyber Torres, so introducing another variable wouldn’t have been the most helpful move for manager Aaron Boone (though we’ll be regretting that statement when the inevitable injury bug hits).

The positives about Merrifield? He’s an iron man. Hasn’t missed a SINGLE GAME since 2019, and only four total since 2018. The down side? He’s in his age-33 season and we might already be seeing signs of regression. Outside of his rookie season, he registered career lows in batting average (.227), OBP (.317), OPS (.711) and OPS+ (92) last year. Yes, a bit nit-picky because he led the AL in doubles (42) and stolen bases (40) … but this year he’s hitting .127 with a -6 OPS+ and three steals through 17 games. Additionally, he’s mostly played right field and second base over the last few years, which wouldn’t have really fit into the Yankees’ plans right now.

Maybe our continued calls to trade for Merrifield were wrong in the end. Would take him on this team any day, but right now it probably wouldn’t have worked out.