Philadelphia Phillies release Whit Merrifield. What was the reason he was dismissed and who was the replacement for him?
Merrifield could not replicate his successes at the plate in Kansas City and Toronto with the Phillies
In a surprise move, the Philadelphia Phillies released one of their major free-agent signings just before the All-Star break.
The team announced prior to Saturday’s match against Oakland Athletics that it released the player who was a utility Whit Merrifield.
To fill in his place the infielder and outfielder Weston Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
In in the offseason Merrifield was signed to sign a single-year contract worth $8 million in the Phillies. His contract took terms of $7 million pay package this season and a $1 million buyout, or an $8 million club option in 2025.
Merrifield 35, who is a veteran, offered the Phillies some room to maneuver, in that he played 20 games in left field as well as twelve at second base, and eight at third base.
However, he only hit .199 and had eight hits that were extra base, which included three homers in 173 plate appearances.
Merrifield is an ex-Wilmington BlueRocks player.
Merrifield was a star in Merrifield’s Advanced Class A Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2011 and 2012, hitting 50 doubles and taking 49 bases over 227 games as he progressed up his way through the Kansas City system.
Over the course of eight seasons in Kansas City and Toronto, Merrifield hit .284 and was the leader in by the AL by stealing bases three times, and hits twice. He was three-time All-Star.
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However, Merrifield could not achieve the same achievement with the Phillies which he had hoped to add variety and depth to an organization with World Series aspirations.
Wilson 29 who plays in the infield as well as outfield, played in two games for the Phillies in June, following eight in the previous season, when Wilson hit .313 with the home run in his first big-league appearance.
He’s batted .315 with 20 RBIs, 10 homers and an 1.186 OPS while playing for the IronPigs. He was named the International League Player of the Week on July 1, after hitting four homers and an 1.417 OPS over six games.