Whit Merrifield joins the Phillies

It’s hard to build a great Major League Baseball roster. The Philadelphia Phillies, as you are likely aware, have done it just a handful of times since 1883.

It’s even harder to build a great Major League Baseball roster that accounts for “what-if” scenarios. Such as: What if probable left-fielder Brandon Marsh struggles to hit left-handed pitching? What if probable center-fielder Johan Rojas struggles to hit any pitching? What if second baseman Bryson Stott unexpectedly misses a significant amount of time?

The Phillies had been fairly candid this offseason about their desire to land a free agent to guard against some of these scenarios. But finding the right player wasn’t easy. Outfielders talented enough to help were interested in guaranteed playing time, which the Phils couldn’t offer. Said team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski earlier this month, “We talk to people all the time. The reality is that we don’t have guaranteed playing time that some people want. We just don’t have that. It’s not really even a dollar issue as it is playing time.”

Dombrowski was in a tough spot. He couldn’t quite trust his starting outfield, but he couldn’t give anyone’s job away to a pricey newcomer. A quality free agent willing to accept the Phillies’ gig would have to be versatile, so that they could collect at-bats from a variety of positions. Ideally, the free agent would bat right-handed. Someone with pop and speed. And a guy who wouldn’t break the bank, because if Rojas, Marsh, and others excelled this season, the mystery free agent would not play enough to justify a big salary.

Enter Whitley David Merrifield.

Merrifield and the Phillies reached an agreement on a one-year, $8 million contract on Friday. More specifically, it’s a $7 million deal for 2024, with an $8 million club option for 2025 that the Phils can buy out for $1 million. The deal also reportedly includes potential performance incentives.

Merrifield is 35 years old, but he’s a three-time All Star. In fact, he earned that honor just last year, posting a .303/.351/.430 slash line (.781 OPS) through July 31 before fading down the stretch. He still finished the season with a respectable .700 OPS, and his career numbers are solid: .284/.330/.420 (.750 OPS). Merrifield has hit 14 home runs and stolen 31 bases per 162 games in his eight seasons as a big-leaguer, and his career numbers against left-handed pitching are particularly strong: .289/.335/.458 (.793 OPS).

Most importantly, Merrifield has the versatility the Phillies were looking for.

What if Marsh doesn’t hit lefties? Marsh and Merrifield could platoon in left field.

What if Rojas struggles offensively to the point where he needs more seasoning in AAA? Marsh could handle duties in center while Merrifield plays in left.

What if Stott unexpectedly misses time at second base? Merrifield considers second base to be his most natural position.

What if all of the Phillies starters have incredible seasons? Merrifield’s contract isn’t exorbitant for a backup role, and he could at least be the helpful bench bat that the Phils have often lacked.

Sure, the Phillies could have waited until the trade deadline to assess their needs and act. But this signing is a great proactive move. There is no guarantee that Dombrowski would have been able to plug a Merrifield-sized hole with someone else mid-season. As Jamie noted in Friday’s Emergency Whit Merrifield Podcast, fewer teams are sellers at the deadline now that MLB has expanded its playoff format. And, of course, it’s always preferable to solve an issue with money alone rather than money and prospects.

This is a move that World Series contenders make. Merrifield may not sell many crappy Nike Vapor Premier jerseys, but he’s the type of role player that can make a real difference.

We will see how it plays out over the course of the 2024 season, but here in February this signing feels like a wise move.