5 trades Braves can make once the lockout ends

Whit Merrifield – Second Baseman

Whit Merrifield is in trade talks every single season, but somehow, someway, has yet to be dealt. It’s likely because the Royals value his positional flexibility more than the rest of the league.

Merrifield has been vocal during the lockout about how the owners have acted. He hasn’t been happy, claiming the owners are using loopholes to cry poor. Surely, the Royals ownership group hears this. It’s all part of the negotiations, but feelings get hurt during this process, and it might be time to move on.

The Braves would love to take on the services of Merrifield. He plays just about every position, and he fields well. He is the type of player that really helps a team on a daily basis. He could theoretically play every position outside of catcher and pitcher within a week.

This would be a great addition for the defending champs. Merrifield would allot Atlanta time to rest their young core and monitor injuries to boot.

Merrifield brings an old-school approach to the basepaths, as well, registering 40 stolen bases in 2021. He doesn’t have much postseason success to show for his efforts, but there’s little doubt he’d find some way to impact a playoff series given that positional flexibility and electric speed once he gets on base.