The Phillies announced Friday that theyve released veteran infielder/outfielder and recalled fellow infielder/outfielder from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Merrifield signed a one-year, $8MM contract with the Phillies in free agency this past offseason. That guarantee came in the form of a $7MM salary for the current season and at least a $1MM buyout on an $8MM club option for the 2025 campaign. Merrifield, who has struggled to a .199/.277/.295 batting line in 174 plate appearances this season, is still owed about $3.01MM of his salary plus that $1MM buyout. Hell now be able to sign with any team, and a new club would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster or injured list. That amount would be subtracted from what the Phillies owe, but Philadelphia will remain on the hook for the majority of his remaining contract. While things with the Phillies clearly didnt pan out, the Karl Kauffmann Jersey 35-year-old Merrifield was a decent hitter as recently as last season in Toronto, when he turned in a .272/.318/.382 slash with 11 homers, 28 doubles, a triple, 26 steals, a 6.1% walk rate and a 17.1% strikeout rate. His offense has tailed off since his peak seasons (age-29 and 30) when he led the American League in hits in consecutive seasons as a member of the Royals, but this level of decline was as unexpected as it was precipitous. To his credit, Merrifields contact skills remain excellent. Hes fanned in only 10.9% of his plate appearances, and this years 8.6% walk rate actually ties a career-high mark for the three-time All-Star. He hasnt hit the ball with any authority, however, turning in a bottom-of-the-barrel 83 mph average exit velocity and 17.4% hard-hit rate. Merrifield entered the 2024 season with a gaudy 24.8% line-drive rate in his career but has hit just 16.8% of his batted balls on a line this season. The late-blooming Merrifield didnt even reach the majors until his age-27 season in Kansas City, but he almost instantly became not just a fixture on the Royals roster but one of the most prolific hitters and base thieves in the league. From 2016-20, Merrifield batted .295/.342/.445 with 58 homers and 119 stolen bases. In addition to leading the majors in hits in 2018 and 2019, he also paced the American League in stolen bases in 2017, 2018 and 2021. Between that track record, the now minimal price tag and his defensive versatility he can play second base, third base and all around the outfield Merrifield should find a new opportunity before long. Grim as his 2024 production (or lack thereof) has been, there are several teams around the league looking for a veteran righty bat and/or help at second base/left field. The Yankees, Red Sox and Mariners are among the current postseason contenders whove received negligible production from second base this year and could speculate on Merrifield turning things around with a change of scenery. (WEEIs Rob Bradford that Boston did not have interest in Merrifield this offseason, but circumstances change.) And, Merrifields former Kansas City club has been on the hunt for a bat that can play both the infield and outfield, as noted last month . Josh Rogers Jersey