The Atlanta Braves have finalized a major-league deal with veteran utility player Whit Merrifield, the team announced on Monday.
Merrifield is expected to join the Braves for their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. However, his status is day-to-day after he took a ball off a finger of his throwing hand while taking grounders, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic.
The 35-year-old’s addition provides the team with depth after second baseman Ozzie Albies was sidelined for eight weeks due to a fractured wrist.
The Philadelphia Phillies released Merrifield on July 12 after he recorded a batting line of .199/.277/.295 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 53 games. Merrifield, a three-time All-Star, had signed a one-year, $8-million contract with the Phillies in February.
During his career peak, the South Carolina native led the American League in hits twice and topped the stolen bases leaderboard on three occasions. Although he hasn’t posted an OPS above .800 since 2019, he did achieve a .281 batting average with a 119 OPS+ during a 44-game stint for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 following a trade from the Kansas City Royals.
