The Atlanta Braves had a dreadful weekend, to say the least. It started with the word that staff ace Max Fried was headed to the injured list with neuritis in his throwing arm. Then, during Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, Ozzie Albies broke his wrist on a play at second base and is going to be out for a couple of months.
Replacing Fried will be a challenge, but Atlanta has options both in their minor league system as well as potentially returning from the IL to at least cover innings. Replacing Albies is trickier as the Braves' farm system is not deep whatsoever on the position player side. Fortunately, Atlanta did have top prospect Nacho Alvarez at Triple-A and will give him a shot at the big leagues.
The Braves aren't leaving anything to chance, however. While Alvarez's hit tool and defense are highly regarded, Atlanta decided to add some depth and experience to their big league roster by signing former All-Star infielder Whit Merrifield to a major league deal.
Superutilityman Whit Merrifield and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a major league deal, sources tell ESPN. Merrifield was released recently by Philadelphia. He’ll join the Braves today and help provide depth after the injury to All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 22, 2024
Braves News: Atlanta signs Whit Merrifield to a major league deal
It wasn't that long ago that this signing would have been a massive deal for the Braves. Merrifield made the All-Star team as recently as last year and was among the best pure hitters in baseball as well as a terror on the base paths during his time with the Royals from 2016 to 2022.
However, at 35 years old, Merrifield has struggled mightily in 2024. After slashing .199/.277/.295 in 53 games in Philadelphia, the Phillies decided to release Merrifield and evaluate other options in their infield.
There is a chance that Merrifield can bounce back with the Braves as we have seen previously with guys like Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and others. However, the more likely scenario here is that Atlanta is just hedging if Alvarez is overmatched in the big leagues. Merrifield is a shadow of his former self these days, but he does have plenty of experience and can fill in in the event that someone else gets hurt or if Nacho can't get the job done. The move isn't as sexy as it would have been a few years ago, but it is still fortunate that a utility guy like Merrifield is even available right now.