The Philadelphia Phillies have signed super utilityman Whit Merrifield to a one-year, $8 million contract with a club option for 2025, according to Ken Rosenthal.
While Philadelphia has been a bit quieter in the offseason than many expected, opting to focus on retaining Aaron Nola above all else, the addition of Merrifield
Who is Whit Merrifield?
Whit Merrifield, a right-handed hitter, made his debut for the Kansas City Royals in 2016 but has spent the last two years playing in Toronto for the Blue Jays. Over the course of his eight-season career, Whit has earned three All-Star appearances (2019, 2021, 2023) and is a 3-time stolen bases leader (2017, 2018, 2021).
His 2023 season saw him have a .272 batting average with a .318 on-base percentage and .700 OPS. He hit 11 home runs and had 67 RBI in 144 games played (547 at-bats).
Merrifield played second base, left field, and right field for the Blue Jays last season, where he was an alright defender across the board. His positional versatility is something President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has said he wants in the clubhouse.
General thoughts on the Phillies’ latest addition
Whit Merrifield was an all-star last year and significantly improves this Phillies bench. He is perfect for day games and double-headers. He won’t play as many games this season, and his limited role is just what the Phillies need.
It is a cheap deal, and the club option for 2025 can keep him with the Phillies for at least two years at a max total value of $16.6 million per Rosenthal. He gets on base, hits at a decent clip for a bench bat, and can play multiple positions.
This is a B+ signing by Philadelphia, at least. It will be interesting to see if the Phillies will try to have him steal at a high rate when he’s on base.
