The Atlanta Braves still have a lot to do this offseason, and there’s now only a month left before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. To this point, Alex Anthopoulos has yet to sign a single player to a guaranteed major-league contract, while several key players have already found new homes. Most notably, Max Fried signed with the Yankees, Jorge Soler and Travis d’Arnaud joined the Angels, while Charlie Morton inked a deal with the Orioles.
But the Braves are also in danger of losing a couple of unsung heroes from the 2024 squad. Atlanta opted to non-tender Ramon Laureano earlier in the offseason, and they did not pick up their club option on Whit Merrifield. Two players that joined the Braves mid-season, and without them, the club’s postseason streak likely doesn’t extend to seven years.
There’s still a chance Alex Anthopoulos circles back on Laureano, who will likely settle for a cheap one-year deal later in the offseason, but it appears as if Whit Merrifield’s time with the Braves is over.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the veteran may not play at all next season as he mulls retirement to spend more time with his family.
“Whit Merrifield was a good fit during his time in Atlanta. But a source has said there’s a chance he opts to retire and spend more time with his family,” Bowman writes.Â
Merrifield didn’t make his MLB debut until he was 27, but he went on to make three All-Star teams and led the league in hits not once but twice. He was one of the great contact bats of his generation and had several clutch moments for the Braves while they were absolutely depleted by injuries. Another year in Atlanta always seemed unlikely, but if this is the end of his career, he has a lot to be proud of in regard to what he accomplished over his nine years in the majors.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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