Scott Kingery and Whit Merrifield aren’t exactly at the same place in their careers.
Merrifield, 31, led his team in bWAR last season and is considered by many as the best player on their rebuilding club. He’s a late-bloomer, but on the wrong side of thirty nonetheless, with 3.5 seasons under his belt as an above-average player. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently wrote this of Merrifield: “The 31-year-old is one of the better all-around veteran assets in the game, considering his ability to play multiple positions, his inexpensive contract that could extend through the 2023 season, and his three consecutive seasons of strong production.” He boasts a career batting line of .296/.344/.445, good for 109 wRC+.
Kingery, 26, disappointed in a major way in his first shot at the big leagues, but he rebounded last year with an honest effort as a multi-positional asset for the contending Phillies. In just his age-25 season, Kingery posted a line of .258/.315/.474 across 500 plate appearances while socking 19 long balls. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently wrote this: “Kingery had some ups and downs in his second season in the bigs, but ultimately made huge strides and turned in a league-average offensive season.” To this point, Kingery’s career line stands at just .242/.291/.407 – but the former 2nd round pick produced a 101 wRC+ last season. At a similar age, Merrifield was splitting his time between Double and Triple A.
Financially-speaking, both are signed to long-term deals. Because Merrifield debuted on the older side, he signed a very team-friendly deal through potentially his age-34 season. He’ll make $5MM in 2020, $6.75MM in 2021, just $2.75MM in 2022, and the Royals hold a team option for $10.5MM in 2023. Many thought Merrifield would be traded to a contending team this winter, but the Royals love him, and given his contract, there’s no particular rush to move him. By not moving him, they’re missing out on the opportunity to add young talent to the organization, but Merrifield is producing now, and his story is one that might give many Kansas City farmhands hope.
Kingery is signed even longer. The Phillies will pay him $1.75MM in 2020 (in theory), $4.25MM in 2021, $6.25MM in 2022, and $8.25MM in 2023. Philadelphia also holds three team options: $13MM in 2024, $14MM in 2025, and $15MM in 2026.
Kingery’s deal brings a lot more upside, with Merrifield likely brings more near-term value. Given the current standings of the Phillies and Royals, an argument could be made that a straight-up swap of the two multi-positional right-handers makes a lot of sense. Kingery has yet to prove that he can produce a season like Merrfield’s 5.2 bWAR effort in 2018, but he’s also five years younger and signed for a longer period. Their deals, meanwhile, converge in 2023, where a 34-year-old Merrifield would be making more on a one-year deal than the 29-year-old Kingery, who at that point will have three relatively reasonable team options remaining.
Both players boast well-rounded games, with Kingery bringing a bit more pop potential, while Merrifield has superior bat skills. Kingery has swiped 25 bases while only being caught 7 times over his two seasons, while Merrifield led the AL in stolen bases in both 2017 and 2018. Last year, Merrifield’s volume and efficiency fell off a bit as he swiped just 20 bases in 30 chances. Both players have capably moved around the diamond, both infield and outfield. The gap between Merrifield’s 110 wRC+ last season and Kingery’s 101 wRC+ isn’t as great as the perceived talent gap between the two players. If nothing else, assume some age-related regression for Merrifield, while Kingery develops further as he grows into his prime, and don’t these two inch just a little closer?
Merrifield is the quick-trigger choice, but given a comprehensive look at both players, an argument can be made that Kingery is the better asset. All in, which would you prefer to have on your team: Merrifield’s proven qualities or Kingery’s rising upside? Put another way, who has the better asset: the Royals or Phillies?
Merrifield for the next 2 years.
Age old question: long term or short term: Phillies are win now, Royals not, so probably benefits both teams.
How would trading a quality ballplayer for someone who has never produced, but he is younger….. Benefit the Royals ??? ever…..
A 110 wRC+ is quite a bit more than 101. 10% higher than league average compared to just 1% is a wide gap. Plus Whit did that on a God awful team. Put him on a contender and that might go up to 120. Merrifield wins hands down.
Read the last paragraph
The contending Phillies?
Exactly… LOL
Neither. Thanks. Buh-Bye!
Albies short term, medium term, long term
Braves fan here and even ill say Albies (while better) isnt in the discussion …. choose between the two please
I forget the part where albies play multi positions
I find this as a stupid question. I think you are getting a sure deal with Merrifield, but with Kingery you don’t know if he will ever get better than Sean Rodriguez. It depends on the club, but I’d much rather have Merrifield.
Sean Rodriguez? Seriously?
Whit is great on that contract, but age is just too much different here.
I guess I’m not as high on Kingery as others. Seems like his best asset is his contract. I’m not convinced Kingery will ever produce at Merrifield’s current level. And Merrifield is still trending up.
I’d rather have Mhit Serrifield.
The contract evens it out, even if Kingery’s best years are around Merrifield’s averages. Depends on which team we’re talking about. The Orioles/Marlins would probably prefer Kingery as the Phillies/Yankees/Dodgers would rather have Whit
Exactly, it just depends on the team. Of course bad teams will want Kingery and contenders will want Merrifield. I just think that Kingery will never be AS good as Merrifield.
Kingery was in line for a breakout season. He’s going to be an everyday 2B which will allow him to focus more at the plate, not worrying about which glove he’s going to use. He has more pop than Merrifield, same amount of speed and same, if not better glove. Kingery is younger and also has a team friendly contract. I’d take Scottie even if I wasn’t a Phillies homer. He’s more than capable of producing a .280/.333/.480 year in and year out with 30/30 potential.
34, 45 and 20 SB’s with 19, 12 and 16 HR’s for wHit vs. 10 and 15 SB’s with 8 and 19 HR’s for Kingery…. Yeah… Kingery has more pop and speed than wHit… MLB has seen thousands of players flame out who had WAY MORE potential than Scott Kingery…
The ONLY difference between Him and wHit is “Proving It”….
You are Most Definitely a Phillies Homer…
And wait, what were Whit’s numbers in his age 23 and 24 seasons?
I’d take Merrifield every time. It’s not even close when you consider the argument. All of Kingery’s work and all of his strides lead to… a near league average season. Sure, he might make another jump. I’d rather have the bird in hand than whatever is in the bush, though.
Merrifield helps a contender win, and is more valuable as a trade asset if you’re rebuilding.
“who has the better asset: the Royals or Phillies?”
Royals.
Whit has proven himself one, Scott hasn’t …yet.
Amen…
Right now, I would take Merrifield, but for the future, could be the other way around, but we will see.
Merrifield is the better player. Kingery is not good enough for his youth to tip the scales at all.
Not to be bias because I’m a Phillies fan, because I actually like both players but I have to say Kingery here…younger, more versatile, and plenty more upside to grow. He came up 2 years ago a skinny little kid, and prior to spring he came in Very beefy and looking jacked up. I’m excited to see what that does for his power numbers
(Side joke) Kingery has better looks and better hair lol..Kingery is the man! Run this poll at the end of the season and see where the numbers match up. Whit is 32 years old, Kingery is plenty young yet..He’s my 6 yo sons fav Phillie bar none. He calls him the king lol
wut season
pretty dumb comparison … I’ll take fletcher over kingery .
agreed. Im a Phillies fan and id take Fletcher. i was lobbying us to sell high on Cesar for him a few years ago.
I think this kind of depends on the perspective you’re answering from. For the Mariners, I’d rather have Merrifield. He can be flipped for assets and doesn’t have big salary attached to him (although I suppose if you’re exercising Kingery’s options it’s because he’s performing). I think there are enough young guys and prospects to give time to that Kingery doesn’t really fit the Mariners’ current plans.
Merrifield is a wonderful overachiever. Kingery will likely improve but right now, there’s no comparison.
I select Jody Reed
Never trust a Jody
My answer depends on the team. Whit Merrifield is probably better to help a contending team get over the top. However, Kingery is a better building block.
youre on some sort of drugs to think kingery is better
For the record Ozxie’s and Whit’s agents suck. Both should have got double what was offered to them. I can’t believe they let their agents settle for peanuts when Kyle Gibson is getting 28 mil for 3 years and he sucks
Those are 2 different questions… who would I prefer to have on my team right now? Easily, the answer is Merrifield.
But who would be a better asset to their team? Kingery
Kingery Scotty has the potential to be a major impact player for the next 5+ years