All winter long, the Phillies have been looking for a guy. Not just any guy–a guy who can play outfield, sort of, and get on base, maybe. A guy who is fast, hopefully, and can fill out their thin bench, I guess.
Knowing Dave Dombrowski’s type–established players in their thirties with few question marks on their capabilities–it is only slightly surprising that the Phillies have reportedly signed free agent Whit Merrifield to a one-year, $8 million deal.
Playing for the University of South Carolina in 2010, Merrifield smacked the game-winning hit of the College World Series in extra innings. The Royals scooped him up and he was in the majors full-time by 2017, when he started to break out as a hitter. Merrifield came into the Kansas City locker room one day to find a picture of himself in a fake Nike ad that read “We are all Whitnesses.”
Merrifield, a 35-year-old “super” utility player, spent last year with the Blue Jays and most of his career with the Royals. His best days were considered behind him, but he did make the American League all-star team last season after an impressive first half–Merrifield actually had a sizzling July in which he hit .356 with a .997 OPS in 96 PA for Toronto (You’re going to see Merrifield described as a “three-time all-star” a lot too).
After that, though, Merrifield seemed to succumb to the “August” of it all, and the steady beat of the long season and the hot Canadian sun seemed to take its toll. He wound up slashing .212/.250/.288 from August until the end of the season.
Hopefully you’re not sick of streaky hitters yet–in addition to his up-then-down 2023 season, Merrifield was striking out at about a 20% clip when he first joined the Blue Jays midway through 2022 and hit .182 in his first 26 games. Then, someone doused his bat in gasoline and lit a match and he hit .392 with an 1.113 OPS in his final 15 games down the stretch for Toronto.
Merrifield’s pockets of success have often been deemed “unsustainable” when they occur these days, but what success is? The Phillies aren’t looking for a full-time second baseman or left fielder, they’re looking for a utility guy who can hit a little and play in the outfield. He was said to contribute to the overall locker room leadership while in Toronto as well, and his 17.1 K% in 2023 would have been one of the lowest of the qualified 2023 Phillies, nestled between Trea Turner and Bryson Stott.
You’re going to see the term “super utility” thrown around a lot, but it’s best to temper expectations there. Merrifield has played multiple outfield positions, but it seems best to keep him out of center field (the Phillies have enough decisions to make out there already). He can give you some time in left and at second, but outside of those positions, it’s best not to test the “super” part of his “utility.” Defensively, Merrifield does not project to give you a lot, but probably enough, as his playing time will be consistent but sparse. Depth at multiple positions will always be attractive to a team, and that’s what the Phillies feel they’ve gotten for a cool eight mil.
So, there he is. There’s the guy we’ve all been waiting for.
May we all be Whitnesses.
