All-Star Utilityman Lined to Philadelphia Phillies
It’s been a much different offseason for the Philadelphia Phillies this cycle than in years past after landing their No. 1 target early on and just sitting back without much more action. Overall, free agency in the MLB is full of teams looking for players that will upgrade their team in the short-term and put them in positions to succeed. Most of the thought process during this time period is about landing the high-profile players who are stars.
Fans want hope, teams want to get better and nothing sells positivity heading into the next season like landing elite players. However, teams also use free agency for other things. For those who already have a ready-made roster like the Phillies, their goal is to add winning pieces who can contribute in a role, no matter how limited. After re-
signing Aaron Nola, there isn’t much this Philadelphia club needs to compete. But, former MLB executive Jim Bowden thinks they will target three-time All-Star and current utilityman, Whit Merrifield, as an addition to their lineup and defensive versatility
“I think the Phillies could land a versatile, right-handed-hitting player such as Whit Merrifield or Tony Kemp who could play both the infield and outfield,” he predicts. Merrifield is coming of an All-Star season in 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays where he slashed .272/.318/.382 with 11 home runs and 67 RBI across 145 games. He would be a great addition to the bench unit and provide solid hitting. The 34-year-old veteran is also a hard worker and should fit into the clubhouse culture seamlessly.
It will be interesting to see how much money Merrifield is searching for after becoming a free agent, but maybe the idea he could compete for a championship with the Phillies will lower his asking p
