Whit Merrifield, whose streak of 553 consecutive games played ended earlier this week, won’t make the trip north of the border this weekend, joining teammates Andrew Benintendi, Michael Taylor and Hunter Dozier among 10 Royals ineligible due to Canada’s vaccine mandate. The Phillies were similarly shorthanded earlier this week, playing without four of their regulars (J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson) against Toronto.
While anti-vaxxers have rallied around Realmuto and others for standing their ground, refusing to cave to Canada’s COVID demands, others have framed them as stubborn, ill-informed and worst of all, selfish, unwilling to sacrifice for their teammates in a sport where availability will always be the most valuable commodity. In explaining his decision, Merrifield said he’s seen vaccinated teammates get “pretty sick,” spreading the illness to others in the clubhouse and even bringing it home to their families. Those “experiences” dissuaded Merrifield from getting the shot, however, the two-time All-Star suggested he’d be willing to get vaccinated if traded to a contending team with a high likelihood of facing Toronto in the postseason.
“That might change down the road,” said Merrifield, who has led the American League in steals three of the last five seasons. “Something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes. But as we sit here right now, I’m comfortable in my decision.”
Currently 11.5 games off the American League Wild Card pace, Kansas City’s chances of playing in October, even with MLB expanding its postseason field to 12 teams, are less than one percent. There’s obviously a lot of baseball left to be played, but at 35-53 through 88 games (.398 winning percentage), Merrifield has apparently seen enough, confident the Royals won’t see Toronto again in 2022.
It’s a flabbergasting admission, though it touches on a larger point that’s worth exploring. Take the Yankees, for instance, who had several players who were initially reluctant to get the vaccine (MLB home run leader Aaron Judge among them) but ultimately got the jab, citing their three regular-season series in Toronto and the looming prospect of a postseason rematch. The Astros, arguably the Yankees’ biggest threat in the American League, are fully vaccinated for much the same reason.
Merrifield, who is mentioned as a trade candidate around this time every year, would be a valuable addition to any team he joins, boasting plus speed and the versatility to play almost anywhere on the diamond (in the big leagues, he’s played every position but shortstop and catcher). But his troubling comments, suggesting he’d get the vaccine for another club but not the one he currently plays for, is a serious red flag and should give teams pause when pursuing him at the deadline.
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