CLEARWATER, Fla. — Whit Merrifield has never been a part-time player and, all winter, the Philadelphia Phillies made a pitch to him that meant sacrificing at-bats. The Phillies could not guarantee him playing time and they were not willing to sign him to a two-year deal. But they liked the idea of a versatile right-handed bat who plays left field and second base — two positions manned by younger Phillies lefty hitters.
There is an opportunity to help a contending team, the Phillies told the 35-year-old utilityman. And, on Friday, the two sides reached an agreement. Merrifield, who will sign a one-year, $8 million deal with a club option for 2025, will be in Phillies camp by Monday for the first full-squad workout.
Merrifield’s deal, according to major-league sources, can max out at $16.6 million. His 2024 salary will be $7 million and, if the Phillies do not exercise an $8 million club option for 2025, Merrifield receives a $1 million buyout.
The deal is pending a physical.
He’ll essentially become the team’s fourth outfielder, although his ability to play on the infield could help him collect more at-bats. Merrifield will not displace either Johan Rojas or Brandon Marsh in the outfield, but he provides a modicum of insurance for an organization that entered the spring with extremely thin outfield depth.
Now, if there is a tough lefty on the mound, Merrifield could start in left field while Marsh sits. Or, if Rojas struggles at the plate and the Phillies feel like they need more offense on a certain day, Merrifield could play in left field while Marsh slides over to center. Merrifield’s best infield spot is second base, so he could spell Bryson Stott against a lefty starter.
Whit Merrifield makes a sliding catch last season. (David Richard / USA Today)
Merrifield’s addition squeezes either Jake Cave or Cristian Pache from the initial roster projection. Both Cave and Pache are out of minor-league options. The bench, as of now, will have Merrifield, Edmundo Sosa, Garrett Stubbs and probably one of Cave or Pache. Cave would have a slight advantage in that debate because he’s a left-handed hitter while Merrifield and Sosa are both righties.
Merrifield is regarded as a decent runner, although he’s lost a step at this stage in his career. He led the American League with 40 stolen bases in 2021 but he’s only 42 of 57 on steals in the past two seasons.
There was optimism within the Phillies organization that Merrifield could thrive in a part-time role. He played in 553 consecutive games for the Royals from 2018 to 2022. But, with age, his production dipped against a heavy workload. Last season, he hit .303/.351/.420 in 396 plate appearances through July 31. In the final two months, his body wore down. He failed to make hard contact at a consistent rate. He hit only .212/.250/.288 in the season’s final 196 plate appearances. His offensive production against lefties has faded in recent years, and it will be a priority for Merrifield to improve that with the Phillies.
The Phillies may try Merrifield at third base this spring just to add another option. They are comfortable with him in left and right field and at second and first base. He could stand in center field, if needed, but it’s not considered a strength. The $8 million price tag is not cheap for a part-time player, but the Phillies lack robust upper-minors depth and that has forced them into buying insurance policies this winter. They stocked the rotation reserves by guaranteeing Spencer Turnbull $2 million and another potential $1 million for Kolby Allard.
They could continue to accumulate depth through minor-league deals. Major-league sources said the Phillies remain most interested in pitching upgrades — either through trade or free agency — but any meaningful acquisitions might not come until July. The Phillies had broadcasted a desire to see what they had in Rojas and Marsh for the season’s first three months. That has not changed. Adding Merrifield to the mix provides, at the very least, an expensive safety net.
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(Top photo of Whit Merrifield: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
