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Whit Merrifield 2021 Fantasy Outlook: Versatile Weapon Won't Come Cheap
4 years agoIn 2018, Kansas City Royals utility man Whit Merrifield averaged one steal attempt for every 12.9 plate appearances, making him one of the best stolen base options in fantasy. In 2019, that number bloated to 24.5. That scared a lot of people away from Merrifield. In 2020, that number was a strong 17.6 as Merrifield stole 12 bases, which was tied for fourth-most in the league. He also hit home runs at a career-best rate, racking up nine long balls in 60 games. One quirky thing was his batting average falling to a career-low .282 despite a career-best 85.5% contact rate. Merrifield might be a boring pick, but he still remains one of the top projected base-stealers and gives you a strong batting average without being a liability in home runs. Unfortunately, the field is still on him, giving Whit a top-50 ADP for 2021. He justifies that price tag at a shallow second base position, but he does lack the upside you can find with younger players.
