Phillies sign super utilityman to one-year deal

The Phillies are reportedly in settlement with infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield on a one-year, $8M contract. That takes the type of a $7M wage this 12 months and a $1M buyout on an $8M membership possibility for 2025. There are additionally bonuses for the Warner Sports activities Administration shopper that may take the complete worth to $16.6M over two years.

per Jon Morosi of MLB.com. There’s a membership possibility for 2025 price $8M and bonuses and awards that may take the whole worth to $16.6M over two years, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Per Morosi, it’s a $7MM base wage this 12 months, adopted by a $1M buyout on the choice.

Merrifield, 35, reached free company at a late age, as a result of each being a late bloomer and signing an extension with the Royals. He made his main league debut in 2016 on the age of 27 and didn’t really set up himself till the 12 months after, his age-28 marketing campaign.

From 2017 to 2020, Merrifield was solidly above common on the plate and in different areas as properly. He solely walked in 6.3% of his plate appearances however restricted his strikeouts to a 15.4% clip. His .297/.345/.452 batting line in that point amounted to a wRC+ of 111, or 11% higher than the league common. He additionally stole 111 bases in that point whereas offering high quality protection at second base and all three outfield positions.

Throughout that stretch, Merrifield signed a four-year, $16.25M extension with the Royals, with that deal having a membership possibility as properly. He didn’t have quite a lot of leverage since his late-bloomer standing meant that he wasn’t slated to succeed in free company till after his age-33 season. That extension allowed him to lock in some first rate cash whereas giving up his age-34 season through that membership possibility. The Royals would later set off that possibility prematurely, as a part of restructuring his deal in early 2022.

The previous three seasons have seen Merrifield’s manufacturing slip, a interval that noticed him traded to the Blue Jays halfway by. Because the begin of the 2021 marketing campaign, his stroll and strikeout charges have each stayed low as he has hit .269/.313/.392 for a wRC+ of 92. He added one other 94 steals however his defensive metrics have taken a step again. Within the outfield, each Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Common have thought of him to be subpar lately. OAA nonetheless likes his work at second base, whereas DRS gave him +14 on the keystone in 2021 however has detrimental numbers prior to now two years.

Coming into the offseason, MLBTR predicted that Merrifield may get $18M over two years. This contract takes roughly the identical form however solely half of it’s assured, with the second half relying on whether or not or not that possibility is picked up.

For the Phillies, Merrifield is more likely to function a bench/utility piece, although one that might see pretty common taking part in time. The membership has Bryson Stott at second base, although he’s a left-handed hitter. Merrifield is right-handed and has modest conventional platoon splits in his profession: .289/.335/.458 batting line and 111 wRC+ towards lefties in contrast with a .282/.328/.407 line and 97 wRC+ the remainder of the time. Stott truly has reverse splits total however was even in 2023.

Within the outfield, with Bryce Harper now entrenched at first base and Kyle Schwarber more likely to be an everyday because the designated hitter, that leaves Nick Castellanos because the on a regular basis possibility in proper area and Johan Rojas in middle. There’s some uncertainty with Brandon Marsh in left after he just lately had arthroscopic knee surgical procedure. The Phils are nonetheless hopeful of him being prepared for Opening Day however it is going to be tight. He additionally hits left-handed and has robust platoon splits for his profession, with a .272/.347/.438 line and 115 wRC+ towards righties however a .223/.278/.312 displaying and 63 wRC+ towards southpaws.

If Marsh had been to overlook time, the choices to exchange him weren’t terribly inspiring. Neither Cristian Pache nor Jake Cave have hit a lot of their big-league careers. It appears Merrifield may see some left-field time, both masking for Marsh or platooning with him as soon as he’s wholesome. He may additionally cowl second occasionally if Bryson Stott wants a breather. He has a tiny little bit of expertise on the infield corners so may maybe spell both Harper or Alec Bohm every so often, in addition to serving as a pinch runner if he’s not within the beginning lineup. After the Marsh damage, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski downplayed the membership’s chance of buying outfield assist as they didn’t have the taking part in time to supply, however Merrifield’s versatility makes him a greater match than a conventional outfielder.

The transfer brings the Philadelphia payroll to $246M, per Roster Useful resource. That’s a bit north of final 12 months’s $243M Opening Day determine, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. RR has its aggressive stability tax determine at $261M, above the second tax tier of $257M. Additionally they completed final 12 months between the second and third tax tier. Going over the third line, which is $277M, would require the membership to have its high 2025 draft choose moved again 10 spots.

Jon Morosi of MLB.com first related the 2 sides on an $8M assure and first had the $1M buyout. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first relayed the 2025 possibility and particulars.