Braves reportedly sign Whit Merrifield to major league contract

A day after losing Ozzie Albies to a broken wrist, the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a major league contract with veteran infielder Whit Merrifield, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Merrifield was recently released by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Albies suffered a broken wrist in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and is expected to miss about eight weeks of action.

Merrifield signed with the Phillies in the offseason, but he struggled in a utility role, hitting just .199/.277/.295 with three home runs and a 65 wRC+ while making starts at second base, third base and left field.

After Albie’s injury Sunday, rumors indicated the Braves were planning to promote Nacho Alvarez to play second base. It’s unclear if the addition of Merrifield will impact that. Merrifield likely isn’t well-suited to an everyday job at this point in his career, but that would require another roster move.