Royals Have A Whopping TEN Players Going On Restricted List Ahead of Toronto Series

We've seen a number of teams have to play the Toronto Blue Jays without a few key players this season due to their unvaccinated status. But ten? The Kansas City Royals will be forced to put 10 players on the restricted list—40% of their roster— unable to travel to Canada to play this weekend's series in Toronto.

Whit Merrifield is among 10 players the Royals had to put on restricted list in advance of their trip to Toronto tonight due to being unvaccinated. His 553- games played streak ended yesterday with a toe injury so at least being unvaccinated didn’t cause his streak to end.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 13, 2022

Interestingly, among that list is outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who the Jays have been linked to in trade talks. If Toronto is indeed looking into making a deal for him, they'd have to convince him to get vaccinated, or he wouldn't be able to travel back and forth across the Canada/U.S. border. 

Royals players Whit Merrifield, Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, MJ Melendez, Brady Singer, Brad Keller, Kyle Isbel, Michael A. Taylor and Dylan Coleman will be placed on the restricted list for the four-game series in Toronto, per manager Mike Matheny.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 13, 2022

In addition to Merrifield and Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, MJ Melendez, Brady Singer, Brad Keller, Kyle Isbel, Michael A. Taylor and Dylan Coleman will all be docked pay and service time for the four days. 

Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports