A former Toronto Blue Jay has found a new home.
Whit Merrifield has agreed to a major-league contract with the Atlanta Braves, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday.
Merrifield, who spent all of last season with the Jays, was released last week by the Philadelphia Phillies.
After being dealt by the Royals at the 2022 deadline, Merrifield suited up for 189 games during his Blue Jays stint, and hit .277, with a .735 OPS. In his first and only full season as a Jay the following year, Merrifield totalled 149 hits in 145 games, 11 of which were home runs, along with 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases, earning him his third All-Star appearance.
Merrifield signed a one-year, $8-million contract with Philadelphia in the off-season, where he struggled to find that same 2023-level success. Turned into the team’s primary bench option, he appeared in 53 games for the Phillies, recording a .199 batting average with a .572 OPS, both of which were career lows.
Merrifield was subsequently cut by the Phillies on July 12, leading to the Atlanta Braves’ signing on Monday.
Merrifield has split the majority of his career between the corner-outfield and second base. The Braves will be leaning on the latter as they were seeking infielding depth after the injury to All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, who is expected to be out eight weeks with a fractured wrist.
