3 former Dodgers trade targets LA must avoid at the 2022 trade deadline

2. Whit Merrifield

Earlier in the 2022 MLB season, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report came up with three hypothetical trade targets for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The “blockbuster” addition that Reuter pitched was the versatile two-time All-Star, Whit Merrifield.

On paper, a Merrifield trade seems like a real possibility during the deadline. The Kansas City Royals are terrible and are not going anywhere this season and could get more value out of moving Merrifield rather than just keeping him.

Now would be the best time to maximize his value, as he has two more years under contract after this season. He is a relatively cheap contract to acquire, and the Royals can get a contending team to overpay for his services for a World Series push this season.

The Dodgers should not be that contender for multiple reasons. First, while the team could really use some outfield depth and Merrifield would check that box, the two-time All-Star has not been good this season.

Merrifield is hitting .232 with a 69 OPS+. That means that he is 31% below league average as a hitter this season. These woes extend beyond this season as well, as he posted a 92 OPS+ (8% below league average) last season.

It is not like Merrifield is young, either. He is 33 years old, so it very well could be a case of him simply being past his prime. At this point in time, Gavin Lux is a better baseball player. The Dodgers would be foolish to trade legitimate assets for Merrifield.