The Braves are in settlement with infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield on a giant league deal, in line with Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Braves’ 40-man roster at the moment stands at 39 previous to the deal, which means the membership will solely must accommodate Merrifield’s addition to the lively roster with a corresponding transfer.
Merrifield, launched by the Phillies earlier this month, figures to assist cowl second base rather than Ozzie Albies, who suffered a fractured wrist yesterday and is anticipated to be out of motion for about eight weeks. Reporting yesterday indicated that the Braves plan to advertise prime infield prospect Nacho Alvarez to take over for Albies as their common second baseman, and it seems the addition of Merrifield received’t change that. As famous by the New York Publish’s Jon Heyman, Merrifield is at the moment anticipated to take a bench position with the Braves, leaving the beginning job at second base open for Alvarez.
The 35-year-old veteran is a superb match for Atlanta’s roster wants in a bench position, not less than on paper. With clear holes at second base and within the outfield, Merrifield’s potential to play each left area and second base makes for a powerful match, permitting him to again up each Alvarez at second base and work into an outfield combine that at the moment options Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, Jarred Kelenic, and Ramon Laureano. That being mentioned, Merrifield’s troublesome stint with the Phillies provides some cause for concern about his potential to be an efficient main league hitter at this stage of his profession. In 174 journeys to the plate this season with Philadelphia, Merrifield slashed a paltry .199/.277/.295 with a wRC+ of simply 65.
Regardless of Merrifield’s lackluster efficiency with the Braves’ chief division rival, there are some causes for optimism that his efficiency might enhance going ahead. Whereas Merrifield is sort of actually not the above-average contributor he was earlier in his profession with the Royals, for whom he posted a 111 wRC+ and 13.3 fWAR from 2017 to 2020, he nonetheless had a current monitor document of being a serviceable bench bat in newer years. Merrifield slashed a good .268/.311/.385, good for a wRC+ of 90, with the Royals and Blue Jays between 2021 and 2023.
That kind of manufacturing nonetheless appears to be inside the realm of chance for the veteran, notably taking a look at his underlying metrics. Merrifield’s 10.9% strikeout fee this 12 months is definitely the bottom of his large league profession, and his 8.6% stroll fee matches his profession excessive from again in 2018. Whereas Merrifield’s .096 ISO this 12 months is the bottom of his profession, the bigger offender for his downturn in efficiency seems to be his shockingly low .206 BABIP. Coming into the 2024 marketing campaign, Merrifield owned a wholesome .321 BABIP for his profession and had by no means posted a determine decrease than .276 in any particular person season. Even matching his earlier profession low set in 2022 would certainly present a noticeable elevate in his manufacturing and make him a compelling bench piece when mixed along with his versatility and respectable 11-for-12 displaying on the basepaths this 12 months.
Along with serving to Alvarez cowl for Albies at second base, the addition of Merrifield alongside Rosario earlier this month is considerably paying homage to Atlanta’s quantity-over-quality method to retooling their outfield on the commerce deadline in 2021, after they loaded up on rental outfield items within the type of Rosario, Duvall, Joc Pederson, and Jorge Soler so as to assist increase the outfield’s manufacturing following the lack of Ronald Acuna Jr. to season-ending ACL surgical procedure. With Acuna as soon as once more accomplished for the 12 months in 2024, the signing of Merrifield might function a sign that the Braves intend to comply with the same path ahead this 12 months somewhat than spend important prospect capital to land a extra important piece like Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Marlins or Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox.
