Royals GM unlikely to trade Merrifield: 'The ask would be just crazy'

The Kansas City Royals may be trudging through the 2019 season with one of the worst records in baseball, but that apparently doesn't mean they're going to unload one of their best players before the trade deadline.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore stated Monday he's not interested in trading Whit Merrifield by July 31 - unless the return is mind-blowing.

"I believe he's one of the best players in all of baseball right now. The ask would be just crazy," Moore said, according to Tom Martin of KCTV5.

The 30-year-old Merrifield is having another solid campaign for the Royals, slashing .300/.349/.487 with 90 hits, seven triples, and 11 stolen bases while playing both the infield and outfield.

He also enjoyed a terrific 2018 season - during which he led MLB with both 192 hits and 45 stolen bases - and then signed a four-year, $16.25-million contract extension with Kansas City.

Merrifield was named among the Royals' most intriguing trade candidates by a source of MLB.com's Mark Feinsand at the beginning of June.

"He's ... proven how good he is for the third year in a row at a contract most clubs could afford," Moore said. "He's a talented player. People are going to want him on their team."

While Feinsand's source also said that any Royals player could be available for trade this summer, Moore added Monday that his team doesn't want to move anyone who's under club control for an extended period of time, and that nothing of significance should be expected before the deadline.