The Toronto Blue Jays and utility player Whit Merrifield have opted to part ways after both the team and player chose to decline the final-year mutual option on his contract.
The 34-year-old will now explore offseason free agency with no further ties to the Blue Jays organization.
Merrifield would have made $18 million with Toronto in 2024, should he have stuck around.
But with the way his game fell off in the second half of the season, paired with his usage – or non-usage – in Toronto’s two postseason contests last month the decision to move on certainly did not catch many by surprise.
What may have been a surprise, however, was his offensive breakout at the start of the season and his recent nomination for the 2023 American League Silver Slugger Award. He was named Toronto’s lone finalist for the recognition on Thursday.
Merrifield will compete with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson, Los Angeles’ Brandon Drury and Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes for the utility position Silver Slugger, as announced on November 9.
‘Two-Hit Whit’ clubbed 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 145 games for Toronto last season while putting up a .272.318/.382 line at the plate. He managed 149 hits, which ranked him within the team’s top-5 players, and earned 26 stolen bases (first among all Blue Jays). Merrifield was rewarded for his efforts with an appearance in the MLB All-Star Game for the third time in his career.
Around Full Press Coverage
NFL OPINION: Amid Hot Defensive Start, Chiefs To Get Charles Omenihu Back
NBA: Stackin’ The NBA: Toronto Raptors Preview
- Feed has no items.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AP Top 25 College Football Poll: Washington Enters The Top Five
FULL PRESS HOCKEY: Arizona Coyotes Arena Deal Rejected by Tempe Voters
PODCAST: According To Who? Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Time
WANT MORE PODCASTS? Check Out Some Of The Latest From Around The FPC Network
The four-year contract was worth a total of $16.25 million over the course of its time. Originally signed in Kansas, Merrifield was dealt to Toronto on August 2, 2022, where he agreed to get vaccinated in order to travel over the border. He fit in well with the team and found success at the plate and in the field.
Merrifield did express disgust with certain coaching decisions during the postseason, including that of his benching and the choice to relieve starting pitcher Jose Berrios in the fourth inning of Game 2.
“I hated it, frankly,” Merrifield said of Berrios’ early removal following the Blue Jays’ elimination. “It’s not what cost us the game, but it’s the kind of baseball decisions that are taking away from managers and baseball, at this stage of the game.”
Over his career, Merrifield has actually led the American League in four separate batting statistics – and on some occasions, more than once.
Stolen Bases: (2017, 2018, 2021)
Hits: (2018, 2019)
Doubles (2021)
Triples (2019)