Phillies Are Interested In 3 Times All-Star in Free Agency

Would the Philadelphia Phillies benefit from having Whit Merrifield as their “tenth player”?

Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes that.

Before the winter meetings in Nashville next week, the former MLB general manager wrote about a free agent match for every MLB team.

According to Bowden, Merrifield appeals because he bats right-handed and is versatile—two qualities the Phillies might use in the upcoming season:

His ability to play both second base and the outfield increases his value and he fits perfectly with this Phillies team. In his career, he has led the majors in hits (twice), doubles, triples, stolen bases and even sacrifice flies. Merrifield, 34, is a leader in the clubhouse and at this point in his career, his value is most appreciated by contending teams that could use him as a 10th player.

He slashed.272/.318/.382/.700 in 145 games with Toronto in 2023, adding 11 home runs, 67 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. He was also selected for his third All-Star Game.

However, his time as an everyday player is running out as he approaches his 35th season. Plus, Merrifield doesn’t have to play every day given the lineup Philadelphia has.

Merrifield might sign a two-year, $18 million contract, according to Bowden’s projection. That would lessen the hurt of the Blue Jays declining his $18 million option for 2024.

He was a good rotational player for the Phillies’ group of outfielders and second baseman Bryson Stott last season since the Blue Jays utilized him fairly evenly between left field and second base.

Merrifield, an eight-year veteran, signed a lifetime contract with Kansas City in 2016.284 is the batting average. He participated in every game throughout the 2019–21 season and led the Majors in at-bats. In three separate seasons, including a career-high 45 in 2018, he led the Majors in stolen bases and led the league in hits in back-to-back seasons.