July 14, 2019
ANALYSISThe A's are chasing down a playoff spot and needed a back-of-the-rotation starter, so Merrell goes to a new organization after being picked 33rd overall in 2017. Merrell was hitting .246 with a .631 OPS for Double-A Midland this season, but he's been a better hitter than that in his brief minor-league career and was viewed as one of the fastest players in Oakland's system, per
Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Merrell will report to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to begin his time with Kansas City and could end up filling a super-utility role at the MLB level if he develops the way the Royals think he can.