Whit Merrifield wasn’t part of the core that transformed the Royals into contenders and then champions in 2014 and 2015, but he’s now positioned to serve as a franchise cornerstone alongside Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez.
In fact, his new four-year contract opens the door for Merrifield to remain with the club longer than either of those two. He’s the only Royals player who’s currently under contract through 2022.
The Royals officially announced Monday that Merrifield, who turned 30 last week, and the club had agreed to a new deal that keeps him under club control through 2022, as well as a fifth-year club option that could make him a Royal through 2023, when he’d enter the season at age 34.