Merrifield is expected to join the Blue Jays on Thursday for a series in Minneapolis, but his vaccination status and ability to enter Canada for the team's next homestand remains unclear, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports. "Obviously we know he wasn't there in Toronto, but totally up to him [whether he gets vaccinated] and I'm sure he's had conversations with his family and other people," Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday. "We're leaving that decision up to him."

EDGE Analysis

The former Royal missed a series in Toronto just before the All-Star break due to his inability to cross the border, but Merrifield made comments afterward suggesting he would get vaccinated if he were playing for a team in playoff contention. That's now the case after he was dealt to the Jays at the trade deadline, but it remains to be seen if he's changed his mind about getting vaccinated. Merrifield has a career-low .642 OPS through 95 games this season, but a move to a competitive team and having a more potent offense around him could spark his bat to life down the stretch.

Merrifield isn't starting Wednesday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield was traded from the Royals to the Blue Jays on Tuesday but won't make his team debut during Wednesday's series finale in Tampa Bay. Santiago Espinal is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.

The Blue Jays acquired Merrifield from the Royals on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Max Castillo and infielder Samad Taylor, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield notably wasn't eligible to enter Canada for the Royals' series in Toronto shortly before the All-Star break, so the Blue Jays presumably signed off on the deal with the understanding that the 33-year-old will choose to get vaccinated. If that's the case, Merrifield should settle in as the Blue Jays' everyday second baseman, allowing Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio to handle utility roles. Merrifield's performance has dipped in 2022 compared to years past, but he's batting .266 since the beginning of May and has registered 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts this season.

Merrifield went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield's sixth-inning blast provided the Royals' margin of victory. It was his first long ball since July 8, though he knocked five doubles in 12 games between homers. The 33-year-old has maintained a .240/.290/.352 slash line with six homers, 42 RBI, 51 runs scored and 15 stolen bases through 95 contests. Merrifield continues to hit leadoff versus southpaws, but he's lost his spot atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers -- that belongs to MJ Melendez for now. Merrifield's instead hit second the last four times the Royals have faced a righty.

Merrifield went 2-for-5 with a double, a run and a stolen base in a 7-0 win against the Angels on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield hit sixth in the order in each of the Royals' first two games following the All-Star break, but he was back in the leadoff spot for the second straight contest Monday. The veteran scored two of the team's seven runs and swiped his 15th bag of the season, eighth-most in the American League. Though Merrifield's .247/.297/.354 slash line isn't head-turning, it's impressive that he's reached those numbers after slashing .139/.179/.167 through his first 27 contests.

Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield provided a two-run double in the third inning, but he was thrown out trying to steal third to end the frame. He returned from a toe injury Friday and went 0-for-4, but Saturday's performance was more impressive. Merrifield has now hit sixth in his last two games, with MJ Melendez instead batting leadoff, though neither of them have sustained a solid batting average this year. Merrifield is up to a .243/.294/.347 slash line with five home runs, 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts, 38 RBI and 45 runs scored through 381 plate appearances.

Merrifield (toe) is starting Friday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield missed the final eight games before the All-Star break due to a toe injury and a trip to the restricted list due to his vaccination status. However, he'll start at the keystone and bat sixth in his return to the lineup.

The Royals reinstated Merrifield (toe) from the restricted list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. Before he was deactivated Thursday, Merrifield saw his streak of 553 consecutive games played come to an end due to a bone bruise in his right big toe, which sidelined him for a four-game series with Detroit. Merrifield closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a .240/.292/.343 slash line to go with five home runs, 14 stolen bases, 45 runs and 36 RBI in 84 contests, but his availability for the team's first game of the second half Friday against the Rays is in question due to the lingering toe injury. It's unclear if the time on the restricted list plus the All-Star break will provide sufficient time for Merrifield to make a full recovery from the injury.

The Royals placed Merrifield (toe) on the restricted list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Merrifield saw his streak of 553 consecutive games played come to an end Monday, when he wasn't available for Game 1 of the Royals' doubleheader with the Tigers due to swelling and a bone bruise to a ligament in his right big toe. He proceeded to miss the remaining three games of the series with Detroit and wasn't expected to be available before the All-Star break, but the Royals likely chose to forgo placing him on the injured list knowing that he would land on the restricted list Thursday. Since he's unvaccinated and therefore ineligible to cross the Canadian border, Merrifield won't accompany the Royals to Toronto even though he wasn't on track to play anyway. He'll be reinstated from the restricted list coming out of the All-Star break, at which point he could revert to the IL if he needs more time to recover from the toe injury.

Merrifield said Monday that he's dealing with swelling and a bone bruise to a ligament in his right big toe and is hopeful to return to the Kansas City lineup following the All-Star break, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals delayed placing Merrifield on the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's doubleheader with the Tigers, but a transaction could come later in the day or Tuesday, given that he's ruling himself out for the entirety of the team's eight-game week. Merrifield noted that a team doctor recommended wearing a walking boot to protect the injured toe, so he could be several days away from resuming on-field activities. Nicky Lopez is expected to serve as the primary replacement at second base while Merrifield is sidelined, paving the way for Emmanuel Rivera to play regularly at third base. Merrifield's absence from the lineup for the front end of Monday's doubleheader ends a streak of 553 games played.