Whit Merrifield, UTL
Finally, we have the Phillies’ most prized acquisition from free agency from last offseason Whit Merrifield. After putting together a renaissance season with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 in which he became an All-Star for the third time in his career, Merrifield landed a one-year contract with Philadelphia to finally have the chance to play for a perennial contender.
With the Phillies, Merrifield was expected to play a super-utility role in which he would see starts in both the outfield and infield depending on the matchups. Along with his veteran leadership and breadth of experience, Merrifield was the piece to potentially help take the Phillies to the next level.
However, all was for naught as the nine-year veteran endured his worst-ever season in the majors. In 53 games with the Phillies, Merrifield compiled a dismal .199 batting average and .572 OPS, along with just 21 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Things got so bad that the Phillies eventually released him midway through the 2024 season.
Not long after being released, Merrifield was fortunate enough to catch on with their divisional rivals in the Atlanta Braves for the second half of the season. However, despite putting up slightly better numbers, his struggles continued. The one-time Royal posted a .248 average and .684 OPS, with 23 runs scored, five doubles, one home run, four RBI and six stolen bases in 42 games played.
Obviously, the spurned former Phillie had what was possibly the best game of his season against his former club when the Phillies visited the Braves on Aug. 20, going 2-for-3, with a triple, double, walk and a run scored in a Braves 3-1 win. Merrifield eventually lost playing time during the final month of the season and didn’t end up appearing in the Braves’ abbreviated playoff run in 2024.
Whit Merrifield spent the first 3 1/2 months of this season with the Phillies.
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) August 21, 2024
Games with multiple XBH *for* the Phillies: 0
Games with multiple XBH *vs.* the Phillies: 1
With hopes of getting one last kick at the can this offseason, the 36-year-old veteran has failed to secure a contract with the 2025 regular season set to begin. This just shows how things can quickly change in just over a year’s time. He may still get lucky, similar to how J.D. Martinez landed a deal just prior to the start of the 2024 regular season last year. But at the same time, if he doesn’t get any offers, we may have seen the last of Merrifield in Major League Baseball. For someone who had been an impactful player for many seasons prior, it would be a sad way to go.