Toronto’s Merrifield says he’s vaccinated
Whit Merrifield said Thursday that he is vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be cleared to play for Toronto when the Blue Jays return to Canada.
Merrifield was acquired in a trade with Kansas City on Tuesday for two minor-leaguers. The two-time All-Star was in the starting lineup in center field for his first game with his new team Thursday night at Minnesota.
Merrifield was among 10 players on the Royals who were unvaccinated last month, preventing them from making their trip to Toronto. When asked about his decision, Merrifield drew the ire of Kansas City fans by saying: “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.”
Toronto manager John Schneider said Merrifield will play almost every day in a variety of positions, most likely second base and center.
Roster moves: The Red Sox released outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., a 2016 All-Star and 2018 Gold Glove winner who is hitting .210 with three homers in 91 games this season . ... The Phillies activated shortstop Jean Segura from the 60-day injured list and released shortstop Didi Gregorius. Segura had been sidelined since May 31 because of a broken finger.
Gregorius is batting .210 with a homer and 19 RBIs in 63 games . ... Milwaukee catcher Omar Narvaez (quad strain), Pittsburgh catcher Tyler Heineman (groin strain) and Pittsburgh pitcher Dillon Peters (elbow inflammation) went on the IL.
Briefly: Major League Baseball announced that the Cardinals and Cubs will play a twogame series in London in June. ... Former A’s right-hander Dan Straily, who had been with the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno, signed with the Lotte Giants in the Korean Baseball Organization, the Yonhap News Agency reported. Straily, who pitched in South Korea in 2020 and 2021, had a 6.35 ERA in 15 games with Reno when he asked for and received his release Monday . ... St. Louis reliever Drew VerHagen, who has not pitched since July 14, will have a season-ending hip operation, the St. Louis PostDispatch reported.