User talk:Lee Kang-in's competitor or new colleague? PSG Barcelona aims for 'Handsome MF' or new colleague? PSG Barcelona aims for 'Handsome MF'
Merrifield signed with Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal with Whit Merrifield.
Philadelphia and Merrifield have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract, according to MLB.com . It is a one-plus-one-year contract that includes a $7 million salary in 2024 and an $8 million club option for the 2025 season ($1 million buyout). Including incentives, the value of the contract could reach two years and $16.6 million.
Merrifield finished last season with the Toronto Blue Jays and became a free agent. He appeared in 145 games last year, batting .272/.318/.382 with 11 homers, 67 RBIs, and 26 steals, and was named an All-Star. Although he had decent numbers, his hit production was below the league average, and his wRC+ (adjusted runs) was 93.
Born in 1989, second baseman Merrifield was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the ninth round of the 2010 Rookie Draft and made his big league debut in 2016. He played Kansas City's starting fielder until being traded to Toronto in the summer of 2022.
Merrifield, who played for Kansas City in the Major League Baseball, won three stolen bases (2017, 2018 and 2021) and two most hits (2018 and 2019). Starting with the 2017 season, his first full-time season, he played for four years until the 2020 shortened season, batting .297/.3452, 56 homers, 242 RBIs and 111 steals in 525 games.
However, batting productivity began to decline during the 2021 season, and the past two seasons were regrettable with a batting average of 0.262/.308/.379, 22 homers, 175 RBIs and 42 stolen bases in 284 games. He can play in the outfield as well, but his outfield defense was not good. As a second baseman, his main position, he had ups and downs in defense. Merrifield's eight big league seasons include 1,052 games, 284/.330/.420, 90 homers, 470 RBIs and 201 stolen bases.
Philadelphia already has a starting second baseman, Bryson Stuttgart. Merrifield is expected to take up the backup utility role.
