It’s been a quiet offseason for three-time All-Star Whit Merrifield in his first journey by way of free company, however the 35-year-old has been in touch with as many as 5 groups not too long ago and expects to decide by the tip of the weekend, MLB Community’s Jon Morosi stories.
Merrifield has twice led the American League in hits and has additionally paced the league in stolen bases on three completely different events. He’s coming off an uneven 12 months on the plate, having loved a superb four-month stretch to start 2023 earlier than a sluggish two-month end weighed down his end-of-season numbers.
Merrifield batted .272/.318/.382 total, with 11 house runs, 27 doubles and 26 steals, however his manufacturing regarded way more spectacular earlier than the calendar flipped to August. As of July 31, Merrifield boasted a sturdy .303/.351/.430 slash (118 wRC+). Over the ultimate two months of the season, although, he fell into maybe essentially the most extended hunch of his profession, hitting simply .212/.250/.288 in his ultimate 196 journeys to the plate for the Blue Jays.
That downturn on the plate, paired together with his age, has seemingly tempered a few of Merrifield’s incomes energy. On the one hand, he had some poor fortune on balls in play down the stretch, evidenced by a .247 BABIP that’s nowhere close to his profession mark of .321 or the .347 mark he posted by way of the season’s first 4 months. On the opposite, chalking the hunch as much as “dangerous luck” wouldn’t be correct.
Merrifield’s already-low 85.4 mph common exit velocity and 26% hard-hit price dipped to 83.4 mph and 20.4% from August onward. He didn’t see a marked uptick in strikeouts however did hit 9 hapless infield flies over these ultimate 196 journeys to the dish after hitting simply six such balls all through the season’s first 4 months. Greater than 1 / 4 of Merrifield’s batted balls from Opening Day by way of the tip of July have been line drives; over the ultimate two months of the season, his line-drive price was simply 15.2%.
That robust end to the season derailed what was shaping as much as be a bounceback season for Merrifield. He’d nonetheless been a productive participant within the 2021-22 seasons, however his offensive output had fallen off from his 2017-20 peak, when he batted a mixed .297/.345/.452 (111 wRC+). As an alternative, his 2023 output wound up intently in step with the .265/.309/.386 slash he posted in 2021-22.
Past Merrifield’s prolonged observe file of piling up hits and stolen bases, his defensive versatility has lengthy been an interesting facet of his recreation. He’s spent extra time at second base than another place, however Merrifield additionally has 2775 profession innings within the outfield (the place he’s performed all three slots) along with briefer seems to be at first base (97 innings) and third base (31 innings).
With the Jays in 2023, Merrifield evenly break up time between second base (595 innings) and left subject (594) along with a handful of innings in proper subject (37). Defensive Runs Saved pegged him as a plus-plus defender at second base as not too long ago as 2021 however has given him destructive grades in every of the previous two seasons. Statcast’s Outs Above Common metric stays bullish and has pegged him as an above-average second baseman in every of the previous 4 seasons, together with a +4 mark in ’23. Defensive metrics are likely to agree that whereas Merrifield had some stable defensive showings within the outfield earlier in his profession, he was below-average final season (-4 DRS and OAA alike).
That versatility is undoubtedly nonetheless a part of Merrifield’s enchantment, although he spoke earlier this offseason in regards to the execs and cons of shifting across the diamond as a lot as he has. Again on the Winter Conferences, Merrifield sat down with Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds on MLB Community’s Sizzling Range to debate free company and his versatility (video hyperlink).
“I’ve stated for a very long time now — second base, I really feel, is my finest place,” Merrifield defined in early December. “Once I get to play second base day-after-day, I really feel defensively I’m pretty much as good as anyone, after I can keep there and play sharp. However I do know there’s worth to with the ability to bounce round now, particularly in at present’s recreation. The flexibility facet of it’s massive, however then once more … once you begin speaking a few participant’s worth, once you bounce round, you’re simply not as sharp in sure areas. … There’s give and take. I can bounce round, however I may also be a fairly good second baseman.”
These feedback communicate to a desire for second base, however Merrifield has additionally emphasised that he’s open to enjoying anyplace and acknowledges how that willingness can profit him within the free agent course of. There aren’t many golf equipment at this stage of the offseason with a obvious gap at second base particularly — the White Sox, Brewers and Pirates may all doubtlessly use assist there, speculatively talking — however the majority of contenders may simply match a hitter with Merrifield’s observe file into that acquainted second base/outfield hybrid position wherein he’s excelled in latest seasons.
