I think that's a pretty jerky stance by Merrifield. I don't care enough about my present team to get vaxed, but trade me to a contender and I will? Boy, that's real principles for ya...
Don't forget that whatever team acquires Soto will have to pay him 45-50 million over the next 2 seasons in arb salaries. And will have little hope of signing him to an extension.
Only the deepest pockets need apply.
FWIW modern managers don't seem to like having guys start to warm up "too early". So Cora didn't want Schreiber to be warming up through the 7th and then pitching the 8th.
I'll have to take an agnostic stance on that myself.