Phillies Sign Free Agent To Play Infield And Outfield
This is HUGE news for Philadelphia. The Phillies sign a free agent who will fill both holes in the infield and the outfield. This is amazing news for a team…
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates in the locker room after clinching the Wild Card, their first playoff berth since 2011…
(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)This is HUGE news for Philadelphia. The Phillies sign a free agent who will fill both holes in the infield and the outfield. This is amazing news for a team that has been quiet in the offseason, at least the last couple of months.
Phillies Sign Free Agent
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Whit Merrifield, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. This is a huge addition to the ball club, right? The news comes right after pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, Florida for Spring Training.
Phillies sign free agent Whit Merrifield to their roster for the 2024 season, possibly longer. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Whit Merrifield Contract With Phillies
The details of the deal are outlined by Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal.
"One-year, $8M contract... The deal includes a club option for 2025."
Whit Merrifield Career Stats
He is known as a utility man in Major League Baseball, meaning he can fill quite a few positions in the field defensively. He has a .284 career batting average, he's a three-time All-Star including last season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He finished in the top 20 for Most Valuable Player voting in 2018 with a batting average of .304, slashing 192 hits and stealing 45 bases.
This move adds a lot of much-needed help to the depth of a team that has made the playoffs back-to-back years, winning the National League pennant back in 2022. They were unable to beat the Houston Astros that season and lost the World Series in six games.
He became a free agent after not being able to reach a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason. ESPN reports that "the Royals restructured the deal to guarantee the option year and add an $18 million mutual option for the 2024 season -- which Merrifield and the Blue Jays both rejected, leading to his free agency."
This is a huge addition to the Phillies. He will be able to play in the outfield and infield, in his career he has played first base, second base, and all three positions in the outfield.
Bryce Harper Stealing Home Base: Shot By Shot Photos
It was a bittersweet weekend for the Philadelphia Phillies. What a disappointing loss on Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nonetheless, the Phillies stepped up their game on Saturday night and blew the Diamondbacks out of their own park, winning 6-1. Phillies fans filled the stadium and cheered on their team when Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both hit home runs. Our boys are back! A scary turn of events happened when Bryce Harper was stealing home base in the first inning. He collided with Arizona Diamondbacks', Gabriel Moreno. The catcher stayed on the ground for a while but made a swift recovery and continued the game. Check out the bird's eye photos below.
NLCS Matchup
The Philadelphia Phillies are in their second straight National League Championship Series. Last year, they played the San Diego Padres and beat them to be awarded the title of National League Champions. This year, they will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks who just barely squeaked into the playoffs with an 84-78 record. They are the sixth-seeded team in the National League side of the postseason bracket. That’s the seed the Phillies occupied last season.
Phillies Return Home
The Phillies will return to Citizen's Bank Park in South Philly tonight for Game 6 of the NLCS. They are one win away from heading to the World Series. We know with Philadelphia cheering them on in their home park, there's nothing they can't do. The energy in that stadium tonight will be amazing. We're looking forward to more home runs from the whole batting lineup. We will finally have our good luck charm, Liam Castellanos, back in the stands too! Let's Go Phils!
Take a look at the bird's eye view shot-by-shot images of Bryce Harper colliding with catcher Gabriel Moreno in Game 5 of the NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. He celebrated his 31st birthday on Oct. 16th.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper has better hair than you. Add beard to that list, too.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper is the 4th baseball player to hit a home run in the post season on their birthday. The others include Willie Mays Aikens, Evan Longoria and Kolten Wong.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Philadelphia loves Bryce Harper. He embraces the city and it's fans and we appreciate him for that.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper wore #34 on the Nationals before switching to #3 for the Phillies. He did this out of respect for the late Roy Halladay.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: In a recent interview, Bryce Harper said "He loves this place [Philadelphia]" He loves us and we love him too.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper walks up to Moby's "Flower" or Nelly's "Ride wit Me." Sorry Bryce, that still doesn't beat Bryson Stott's walk-up song, "AOK."
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper married his high school sweetheart. He and his wife now have two children together.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Besides being one of the best players in the league, Bryce Harper is also a charitable man. He supports organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Do not mess with Bryce Harper. He will give you a stare down that will burn into your soul.
Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies checks on Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks after colliding at home plate to score a run during the first inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. They will return to Philadelphia for Game 6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fun Fact: Bryce Harper is the father of two children. His son, Krew, was born in 2019 and his daughter, Brooklyn, was born last November.
