The Braves are in settlement with infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield on a giant league deal, in accordance with Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Merrifield, launched by the Phillies earlier in July, figures to assist cowl second base instead of Ozzie Albies, who suffered a fractured wrist and is anticipated to be out of motion for roughly eight weeks. Reporting 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 gained’t change that. As famous by the New York Submit’s Jon Heyman, Merrifield is at present 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 wonderful match for Atlanta’s roster wants in a bench position, no less than on paper. With clear holes at second base and within the outfield, Merrifield’s capacity 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 present options Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, Jarred Kelenic and Ramon Laureano. That being stated, Merrifield’s tough stint with the Phillies offers some purpose for concern about his capacity 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 may enhance going ahead. Whereas Merrifield is nearly definitely 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 2017-20, he nonetheless had a latest observe document of being a serviceable bench bat lately. Merrifield slashed an honest .268/.311/.385, good for a wRC+ of 90, with the Royals and Blue Jays between 2021-23.
That type of manufacturing nonetheless appears to be throughout the realm of risk for the veteran, significantly his underlying metrics. Merrifield’s 10.9% strikeout price this yr is definitely the bottom of his huge league profession, and his 8.6% stroll price matches his profession excessive from again in 2018. Whereas Merrifield’s .096 ISO this yr is the bottom of his profession, the bigger perpetrator for his downturn in efficiency seems to be his shockingly low .206 BABIP. Getting 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 carry in his manufacturing and make him a compelling bench piece when mixed along with his versatility and respectable 11 stolen bases in 12 tries.
Along with serving to Alvarez cowl for Albies at second base, the addition of Merrifield alongside Rosario is considerably paying homage to Atlanta’s quantity-over-quality method to retooling their outfield on the commerce deadline in 2021, when it loaded up on rental outfield items within the type of Rosario, Duvall, Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler with the intention to assist enhance the outfield’s manufacturing following the lack of Ronald Acuna Jr. to season-ending ACL surgical procedure. With Acuna as soon as once more executed for the yr in 2024, the signing of Merrifield may function a sign that the Braves intend to observe an identical path this yr reasonably than spend prospect capital to land a extra important piece like Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Marlins or Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox.
