Report: Phillies agree to a one-year contract with Whit Merrifield.
The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms with utility infielder Whit Merrifield, according to a person familiar with the situation.
According to a second source, the contract is for one year and $8 million, with a $8 million club option for 2025 and a $1 million buyout.
The people talked to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been publicized.
Merrifield, 35, is a three-time All-Star who hit.272 last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, including 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. He has 201 stolen bases and led the American League with the Kansas City Royals three times. He led the AL with 206 hits and ten triples in 2019.
Merrifield should provide a good right-handed bat off the bench while also playing outfield. The Phillies opened spring training without starter left fielder Brandon Marsh, who underwent left knee surgery last week and was anticipated to be out for three to four weeks.
Merrifield has usually played second base for the Royals, but he was an outfielder last season. He has proven to be dependable, playing every game for Kansas City from 2019 to 21.
Merrifield and Toronto both declined his $18 million mutual option for 2024, making him a free agent.
The Phillies are coming off their second consecutive trip to the NL Championship Series, where they were defeated in seven games by Arizona last season. They’ve had a quiet offseason aside from signing ace Aaron Nola to a $172 million, seven-year contract.
Rob Manfred says he will retire as baseball commissioner in January 2029 after 14 years
Manfred defeated Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner in the first contested election for a new commissioner in 46 years. The third candidate, MLB Executive Vice President of Business Tim Brosnan, resigned shortly before voting began.
Candidates to succeed Manfred have not been publicly identified. Dan Halem, who joined the MLB in 2007 as general counsel for labor, has been deputy commissioner since 2017. He will turn 58 in May.
Manfred’s key outstanding issues are new ballparks for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays. Oakland gained MLB approval in November to relocate to Las Vegas, where the A’s want to build a new ballpark that will open in 2028.
Tampa Bay intends to build a new ballpark close to the current Tropicana Field, which will open in 2028.
He does not believe the expansion to 32 teams will be complete by 2028.
“I don’t think realistically those clubs would be playing before I’m finished,” Manfred was quoted as saying. “I would like to have the process in place and operating before I go.”
