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Phillies Release 3-Time All-Star Ahead of Trade Deadline

Philadelphia cut bait with Whit Merrifield on Friday, signaling that more moves could be on the way.

By Vinnie Portell

Feb 25, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) directs batting practice before a game against the New York Yankees at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) directs batting practice before a game against the New York Yankees at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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The MLB Trade Deadline is looming at the end of the month and the Phillies are making it clear that they could sorely use another outfielder.

Philadelphia released three-time All-Star Whit Merrifield on Friday afternoon, calling up Triple-A utility player Weston Wilson to take his spot on the 26-man roster.

Merrifield was far from a regular starter for Philadelphia, but the team’s willingness to cut bait shows that it’s at least ready to explore other options. 

Merrifield’s Release Points to Phillies Trading for a Bat

Merrifield has displayed above-average contact for his entire career, but that hasn’t been the case this season.

Though he’s a career .281 hitter who had an OPS of .700 or better the past two seasons with Toronto, it seems the 35-year-old finally hit a wall in his time with the Phillies.

He hit just .199 across 53 games (156 at-bats) and offers little else in the way of useful tools. Merrifield doesn’t strike out often and still has 92nd-percentile sprint speed (11 stolen bases), but there’s little value in those traits when you’re not getting on base.

He was meant to be a super-utility player and has done so defensively this season, playing left field, second base, and third base, but he was never able to get his bat going.

Instead, Philadelphia will turn to Wilson, a soon-to-be 30-year-old utility man who has just 20 career MLB at-bats.

He offers more upside than Merrifield, considering he’s recorded a .340 on-base percentage with 18 home runs at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. 

But to assume that Wilson is the solution for the remainder of the season would be short-sighted.

There is no rush for Philadelphia to add another hitter due to its 9.5-game lead over the second-place Braves, but it would certainly help their postseason chances. 

The Phillies have been linked to several outfielders in the rumor mill this offseason, including JJ McCarthy and Luis Robert. 

And although those players wouldn’t fill the exact role that Merrifield had (except for his starts in the outfield), the message is clear: Philadelphia isn't going to settle for mediocrity as it readies its lineup for the postseason.

Be on the lookout for more moves to come before the month is up.

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