May 10, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Whit Merrifield (9) throws to first base to retire Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (not pictured) during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Sam Navarro
After a nine-year MLB career, Whit Merrifield announced his retirement today via his agency, Warner Sports Management.
Merrifield's full letter is posted on his Instagram, and it includes a two-sentence shoutout to Philadelphia:
"Philly, I liked you way more than you liked me. Sorry I stunk for you."
...well, he's not wrong.
The Phillies signed Merrifield, now 36, in February 2024. He was coming off of a 2023 All-Star Game appearance with the Toronto Blue Jays, which was his third All-Star selection since 2019. The Phillies used him as a super-utility man and plugged him in wherever he was needed.
Things did not exactly pan out. In the 53 games Merrifield played with the Phillies, he ended up with a .199 batting average, a far cry from the .272 he hit with Toronto the year prior. His OPS with the Phillies was .572. He was released on July 12, 2024, and signed with the Atlanta Braves shortly afterward.
My biggest memory of Whit Merrifield’s time with the Phillies will be when he called Mr. Brightside “emo.” https://t.co/tm3O7OatV4
So, Merrifield is indeed not wrong. He did, in fact, stink for Philadelphia. But the honesty and self-awareness are absolutely respectable. At least he admitted it; that definitely flies in this town.
In the letter, Merrifield actually cites his daughter, born in March 2024, as the main reason for his retirement and why he can no longer give baseball his full effort. His full retirement letter is definitely worth a read.
