Merritt will likely begin the 2017 campaign as a starting pitcher for Triple-A Columbus, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Merritt appeared in four regular season games for the Tribe in 2016, but only one of those was as a starter (he also picked up a start in the post season). With no open spots in the rotation, the only option for Merritt to make the Opening Day roster would be as a reliever. However, the 24-year-old southpaw is a natural starter, and the wise decision is to not derail him from his projected path. Merritt will almost certainly pick up a handful of spot starts for the Indians in 2017, but projects to have a much bigger role in the foreseeable future. The crafty Merritt is well-suited for dynasty drafts.