MLBTR: Phillies Sign Merrifield, Looking For Versatility In Infield And Outfield
Phillies Sign Whit Merrifield
The Phillies signed second baseman and outfielder Whit Merrifield to a one-year, $8-million contract with an $8-million club option for the 2025 season, per Jon Morosi of the MLB Network and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The contract includes additional bonuses and has a maximum value of $16.6 million over those two seasons.
The Phillies don’t have a hole in their lineup for Merrifield, a three-time All-Star, to fill, but he raises their floor at multiple positions. The right-handed hitting Merrifield could spell lefties Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, or Kyle Schwarber against tough southpaws at second base, in left field, or at designated hitter. He could cover for any delay in Marsh’s readiness for the season following the latter’s arthroscopic knee surgery, and he also gives the team another option in left field should sophomore center fielder Johan Rojas stumble requiring Marsh or Cristian Pache to return to center.
With fellow righty infielder Edmundo Soso already in place, Merrifield may see more time in the outfield than the infield this season. Either way, that sort of utility role is probably the best fit for Merrifield at this point in his career. He’s 35 and has hit just .268/.312/.385 (92 OPS+) over the last three seasons, but he still offers speed on the bases and defensive versatility.
Diamondbacks Sign Randal Grichuck
The Diamondbacks signed outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $2-million contract with a $6-million mutual option for 2025, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Grichuk gives Arizona a right-handed complement to Alek Thomas in center and/or Joc Pederson at designated hitter.
The 32-year-old Grichuk, who has 30-homer power but undermines his pop with a poor plate approach, is a career .267/.315/.507 hitter against lefties. Upon arriving in camp over the weekend, Grichuk told reporters that he had bone spurs removed from his right ankle last month but that, “there’s a good chance I’ll be ready for Opening Day and, if not, it’s a week . . . it’s nothing to worry about.”
Royals Acquire John Schreiber from Red Sox
The Royals acquired side-arming righty reliever John Schreiber from the Red Sox for non-roster right-hander David Sandlin on Saturday. Schreiber, who will turn 30 next month and arrives with three years of team control, had a breakout year in the Boston bullpen in 2022 (2.22 ERA, 3.89 K/BB in 64 appearances). He, however, saw his walk and home-run rates spike last year while lefties, who he controlled well in ’22, raked against him.
Schreiber is still an above-average reliever if used properly and joins lefty Will Smith and righties Chris Stratton and (health permitting) Nick Anderson in a restocked Royals bullpen. Sandlin, a marginal rotation prospect who will turn 23 on Wednesday, was an 11th-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Oklahoma and pitched well in A-ball last year.
Padres to Move Xander Bogaerts to Second Base
Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters that he is indeed swapping Xander Bogaerts and Ha-Seong Kim in the middle infield this season, moving Bogaerts to second base and returning Kim to shortstop. There’s an easy logic to this move, as Kim is clearly the better defensive shortstop, which he proved while starting at the position for San Diego in 2022.
Bogaerts has never played second base as a professional, and the move comes with he risk that he could struggle to adjust to the new position and that those struggles could affect his hitting. Still, Bogaerts is 31, and it has long been evident that his days as shortstop were numbered. With the Padres taking a step back this season, now is a good time to sort that out.
Kim is entering his walk year, but the Padres appear close to graduating shortstop prospect Jackson Merrill, who provides extra motivation for moving Bogaerts off the position. Merrill will reportedly compete for an outfield job this spring, but that has more to do with the Padres’ dearth of options in the pastures than with the quality of Merrill’s play at short.
Not to bring up a sore subject for Padres fans, but remember that Trea Turner broke in as a center fielder and second baseman, simply because the Nationals had playing time for him there, before returning to his natural position. I could see Merrill taking a similar path to major-league playing time. For 2024, however, Shildt is simply trying to put his best team on the field.
Arbitration Decisions
Marlins LHP Tanner Scott won his salary arbitration hearing, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Scott will make $5.7 million this year instead of the $5.15 million the team offered.
Phillies 3B Alec Bohm won his salary arbitration hearing, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bohm will make $4 million this year instead of the $3.4 million the team offered.
Injury News & Updates
Angels RHP Sam Bachman had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the fall and won’t be ready for Opening Day, Bachman told Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.
Atlanta LHP Chris Sale told reporters that this offseason was his “first time going into an offseason without dealing with [an injury] since 2018 or something like that . . . I had a lot of fun this offseason, being able to play baseball and do things that I haven’t been able to do.” LHP Tyler Matzek (October 2022 Tommy John surgery) told reporters he feels good and hopes to be read for Opening Day.
Blue Jays UT Cavan Biggio is a bit behind after experiencing tendonitis in his left shoulder this offseason, manager John Schneider told reporters.
Giants OF Austin Slater is a bit behind coming into camp following October elbow surgery but should be ready for Opening Day, manager Bob Melvin told reporters.
Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett has “general soreness” in his pitching shoulder, manager Skip Schumaker told reporters. Garrett is playing catch, but the team has pushed back his transition to more strenuous throwing for now.
Mets non-roster RHP Kyle Crick has a grade 4 calf strain and may not throw a bullpen until close to the end of camp, which implies he won’t be ready for Opening Day.
Rangers 3B Josh Jung has a minor calf strain (as determined by an MRI). He will be shut down for two to three weeks but should be ready for Opening Day, per multiple reports.
Reds IF Noelvi Marte (hamstring) is expected to miss the first five games of the exhibition season but should be ready for Opening Day. LHP Sam Moll is a bit behind coming into camp due to shoulder soreness but is also expected to be ready for Opening Day. Both per the team.
LHP Nick Lodolo has been at camp for a month already after missing most of last year due to a stress fracture in his left tibia. Lodolo told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he doesn’t have any pain in the leg but isn’t quite feeling normal yet, either. Manager David Bell said the team would prioritize getting Lodolo fully healthy over having him ready for Opening Day, though both Bell and Lodolo are hopeful the latter will be on the Opening Day roster.
Rumors
Angels are “mulling” over making a run at free-agent starting pitchers Blake Snell or Jordon Montgomery but are more likely to sign a lower-tier starter, such as Michael Lorenzen, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
A’s options for their home games for the 2025–27 seasons are down to Sacramento, Salt Lake City, or an extension at the Oakland Coliseum, per Evan Drellich of The Athletic and Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Drellich reports that Sacramento has emerged as the frontrunner, but Akers says that the A’s remain focused on extending their lease in Oakland for those three seasons.
Atlanta has not discussed an extension with lefty reliever A.J. Minter, who is entering his walk year, Minter told Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’d very much like to remain with the team beyond this season.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins spoke to reporters on Thursday and strongly implied that the team is done adding to its roster this offseason, saying, “At this point, additions that would be of significance would mean some level of subtraction. . . . We feel good about the team that we have . . . now coming into another trade deadline, we’ll have another opportunity . . . to add to that team [and] I know that we will.”
RHP Alek Manoah “looks a lot more like himself than he ever did last year,” fellow starter Kevin Gausman told reporters, adding that Manoah’s struggles last year may have had something to do with his workload the year before. Still, Manoah will have competition for the fifth spot in the rotation from free-agent addition Yariel Rodriguez, whom the organization has labelled “starting depth” and top prospect Ricky Tiedemann.
Manager John Schneider told reporters that the team has a plan in place for Tiedemann this year and that the preference is for Tiedemann to get his innings in in the majors this year. Schneider also said that infield prospect Orelvis Martinez will focus on playing second base this season.
Finally, C Danny Jansen is entering his walk year but told reporters he has “had conversations” with the team about an extension.
Brewers OF Sal Frelick is preparing to play second base and third base as well as the outfield this spring as the team looks for solutions to its outfield logjam, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Frelick played a little bit of infield during his college years (specifically in 2018 and ’20) but has been an outfielder exclusively as a professional.
Cubs UT Christopher Morel will focus on third base this spring, manager Craig Counsell told reporters.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that Geraldo Perdomo “is going to be our starting shortstop” despite the pressure from below of top prospect Jordan Lawlar. Said Lovullo, Perdomo “deserves the opportunity to show me he’s able to handle a full workload as an everyday shortstop. . . . He’s earned that right. I know he has worked very hard on his right-handed swing.”
Giants will use Jorge Soler as their primary designated hitter and cleanup hitter, manager Bob Melvin told reporters, adding that Jung Hoo Lee will leadoff and play center with Michael Conforto in left and Mike Yastrzemski in right. Soler and Austin Slater may see some time in the outfield corners against left-handed starting pitchers.
The Giants are expected to sign former 3B Pablo Sandoval to a minor-league contract with and invitation to Spring Training, and the 37-year-old Sandoval—who last played in the majors in 2021, spent 2022 in the Mexican League, did not play in 2023, and is now primarily a first baseman—is intending to battle for a spot on the major-league roster, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Mariners “have discussed the possibility” of signing free-agent 3B Matt Chapman, per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.
Marlins recently made an offer to free-agent SS Tim Anderson, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Mets 1B Pete Alonso, who is heading into his walk year, told reporters he has not had any extension talks with the team but that, “I definitely have envisioned myself being a lifelong Met,” adding that he is open to negotiating during the season.
Nationals CF Jacob Young will battle Victor Robles for the center field job in camp, manager Dave Martinez told reporters.
Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler has said he is open to continuing extension talks into the regular season, but president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters he’d rather work out a deal with Wheeler before Opening Day.
1B Bryce Harper, who is signed through his age-38 season, called playing into his forties, “the biggest thing for me,” saying he wants to work out an extension with the Phillies despite being signed through 2031 and owed another $196 million. Harper also said of his position switch, “I don’t think I’ll move back out to right [field] . . . But never say never.”
Pirates RHP Mitch Keller is anxious to restart extension negotiations with the team, telling Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Hopefully it’ll pick up, and we’ll get something going.”
Rangers non-roster LHP Danny Duffy is building up as a starter in camp, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
Red Sox 1B Triston Casas told reporters he has had extension talks with the team but that the Sox have offered “nothing enticing” thus far.
Twins haven’t ruled out re-signing CF Michael A. Taylor, per the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale.
White Sox have told RHP Dylan Cease that they will trade him if a team meets their asking price, but Cease has started apartment hunting in Chicago and settling into his preparation in White Sox camp, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. General manager Chris Getz told Nightengale that the Orioles have not inquired about Cease in the wake of Kyle Bradish’s UCL injury.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that “odds are” the team’s employment of superstar OF Juan Soto “is a one-year situation. . . . I don’t see too many things stopping him from reaching free agency.” Soto is due to become a free agent after the coming season, as is 2B Gleyber Torres, but Cashman said the team has not had any extension talks with Torres, who has expressed his desire to remain a Yankee.
Cashman also said that the team is still interested in adding pitching for the coming season. To that end, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Yankees have “serious interest” in free-agent LHP Blake Snell but are waiting for his asking price to drop.
All-Star festivities in 2027 and ’28 could be held in Toronto and Chicago (at Wrigley Field in the latter case), MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters on Thursday. Neither the Blue Jays nor Cubs have hosted the All-Star game since the Jays did so in 1991. The 2024–26 All-Star festivities will take place in Arlington, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, respectively.
Roster Moves
Angels reclaimed IF Livan Soto off waivers from the Orioles, placed LHP José Quijada (May 2023 Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day in injured list to make room for Soto.
Diamondbacks placed RHP Drey Jameson (September 2023 Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for OF Randal Grichuk.
Giants placed RHP Austin Warren (May 2023 Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for DH/OF Jorge Soler, whose contract is now official.
Mariners claimed RHP Levi Stoudt off waivers from the Reds, designated OF Canaan Smith-Njigba for assignment.
Orioles claimed UT Diego Castillo off waivers from the Phillies, designated UT Livan Soto for assignment, then purchased LHP Matt Krook from the Yankees, and designated Castillo for assignment. Castillo has switched teams via waivers four times this offseason, matching Bubba Thompson’s total.
Phillies designated RHP Kaleb Ort for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for 2B/OF Whit Merrifield.
Yankees claimed RHP McKinley Moore off waivers from the Phillies, placed RHP Lou Trivino (May 2023 Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day injured list to make room.
Minor-League Transactions
Angels signed UT Ehire Adrianza and RHP Hunter Strickland to minor-league contracts with invitations to major-league Spring Training.
Blue Jays signed DH/1B Daniel Vogelbach to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Robert Murray of FanSided. Vogelbach would receive a $2-million salary in the majors, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Dodgers signed LHP Justin Wilson to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Robert Murray of FanSided and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Mets signed 1B Ji-Man Choi to a split minor-league contract with a maximum value of $3.5 million if he is on the major-league roster and triggers all his bonuses, per Naver Sports. They also agreed to re-sign 1B Luke Voit to a minor-league deal, per Tim Healey of Newsday.
Nationals signed RHPs Zach Davies and Jacob Barnes to minor-league contracts, per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post and Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com, respectively.
Phillies signed OF David Dahl and RHPs Austin Brice and Ricardo Pinto to minor-league contracts with invitations to major-league Spring Training, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Matt Gleb of The Athletic, and Oscar Budejan, respectively.
Pirates signed RHP Chase Anderson to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Robert Murray of FanSided.
Tigers signed 1B/OF Kenston Hiura to a minor-league contract, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hiura would make a $2-million salary plus bonuses in the major leagues, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Purchased non-roster LHP Blake Dickerson from the Padres for $500,000 in international bonus pool money.
White Sox re-signed RHP Bryan Shaw to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training.
From Trade Rumors Front Office
Steve Adams: The Nationals’ Dud of an Offseason
In his latest exclusive article for Front Office subscribers, MLBTR’s Steve Adams expresses frustration over the Nationals’ inactivity this offseason:
The Nationals’ rebuild is moving at a pretty plodding pace, but the 2023–24 offseason offered some potential promise. The Nats’ payroll outlook is largely clean. This is the final season of Patrick Corbin’s six-year contract. The only two players guaranteed anything beyond the current season are Ruiz and injured ace Stephen Strasburg, whose career is over. He’s due $35MM in 2025 and 2026, though the contract contains deferred money that’ll be paid out from 2027–29 (more on that later).
That looked as though it could set the stage for the Nationals to perhaps spend on some mid-range free agents. No one expected Washington to be players for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, of course, but the Nats entered the offseason with an inexpensive arbitration class and $83MM of guaranteed contracts on the payroll. Surely the team would spend to make some short-term improvements—perhaps even a few multi-year deals to help transition out of the rebuild as prized prospects like Crews, James Wood, and Brady House arrive on the scene over the next six to eighteen months.
That seemed to be the plan, too—at least early on. Rizzo told Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com at the Winter Meetings that his club had “several holes to fill” before going on to add: “. . . I think we’re going to take our aggressive approach when it suits us and wait for the market when it suits us. I think we’re going to be busy here.” The GM further added that he’d be prepared to offer multi-year deals “in the right situation.”
Somewhere along the way, the plan clearly changed. The Nats have signed Joey Gallo, Dylan Floro, and Nick Senzel to one-year deals worth a combined $9.25MM this offseason. They haven’t made a single trade.
And yet, general manager Mike Rizzo all but proclaimed the offseason finished this week, stating he didn’t expect to bring in any more free agents on major league contracts. Perhaps there’s a trade or quasi-interesting non-roster deal for a veteran on the horizon, but it seems like the “heavy” lifting (about as charitable use of that adjective as one could employ) is complete.