Merrifield moves to Blue Jays from Royals. meaning the two-time All Star must get vaccinated to play

Second baseman Whitt Merrifield was one of 10 Kansas City Royals players who were unable to travel to Toronto for a four-game-series against the Blue Jay earlier this year due to being unvaccinated. 

Merrifield’s comments in the press at the time caught a lot of attention after he told reporters.

‘The vaccine, what it’s supposed to do, it’s not doing. If it was doing what it was supposed to do and stopping the spread of COVID (then) I would have a little more willingness to take it, but it’s not doing that.’ Merrifield said.

‘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.’ 

Turns out Merrifield now has no choice but to get jabbed after being traded to the Blue Jays for minor league prospects Samad Taylor and Max Castillo.

Canada requires anyone traveling to the country to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before they can be allowed entry. 

Along with walking to the nearest vaccination center, Merrifield has also been walking back his previous comments about the vaccine. 

‘I’m sorry that I poorly articulated the point I was trying to make,’ Merrifield said. ‘It’s an uncomfortable topic and I started rambling on and trying to make a point about my passion for winning that had no relevance to the topic that was being discussed. For that I am truly sorry.’

‘Unfortunately, I didn’t really realize what I said,’ Merrifield said. ‘It took me reading it to understand how it could come across.

‘I’ve wanted to play in the playoffs since the time I put on cleats and that feeling is strong. The vaccine thing… people have very strong feelings about it and I feel the way I feel about it.’

People have strong feelings indeed as large sections of the Royals fan base were reportedly angered after feeling like Merrifield suggested he would change his vaccination stance if he were traded to a contender… which the Royals currently are not. 

With an abysmal record of 41-62 that currently leaves Kansas City sitting fourth in the American League Central, the only competing the Royals will be doing is to stay out of last place in the division. 

Whit Merrifield hits two run single in fifth inning of game in Yankee Stadium

Toronto on the other hand currently has a record of 57-45 and have a 3-game-lead in the American League Wild Card race. 

Merrifield is currently batting .240 with 36 RBI and 14 stolen bases on the season.

Safe to say ‘Merrifield, what he’s supposed to do, he’s not doing’ or perhaps he wouldn’t have been traded from the organization he spent his entire career with to this point.