Some big news for the Phillies bench: according to multiple reports, the Phils are in agreement on a one-year deal with an option for 2025 with utility man Whit Merrifield, one that will be worth anywhere from $8 million to $16.6 million.
Per Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal, the structure of the deal is a $7 million salary in 2024 with an $8 million club option/$1 million buyout for 2025, with bonuses and incentives that could add another $1.6 million over the life of the deal.
Merrifield, 35, made his MLB debut in 2016 at age 27 and broke out with the Royals in 2017, leading the league in stolen bases. He then led the AL in both hits and steals in 2018, and from 2019-21, he played all 384 possible games for KC and was a two-time All-Star. Merrifield also led MLB in at-bats all three years and topped the league in hits and triples in 2019 and doubles and sac flies in ’21, also leading the AL that year with 40 doubles.
He was traded to Toronto at the 2022 trade deadline and spent the last year-plus with the Jays, slashing .274/.319/.394 with 16 home runs and 83 RBI in 189 games, and he earned his third career All-Star selection in 2023.
Perhaps as important as his bat, however, is Merrifield’s flexibility; he played primarily second base in his first three seasons but also got into the outfield, and was primarily an OF for the Royals in 2020. Last season, he played almost an even split between second base and left field with a few appearances in right, but has experience at all three outfield positions and has played a little first base as well.
The Phillies will need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate Merrifield, which could spell the end for one of those players out of options, like outfielder Cristian Pache or utility man Rodolfo Castro.