The Phillies took a chance on veteran All-Star Whit Merrifield with a one-year, $8 million contract but ultimately had to cut ties with him due to his struggles. Merrifield, a three-time All-Star, failed to find his footing in Philadelphia, hitting just .199 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 53 games. His release marked a difficult decision for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who praised Merrifield's character and contributions to the team. Last season, Merrifield performed well with the Blue Jays, but was unable to replicate that success with the Phillies. Despite his impressive career stats, including multiple All-Star appearances and high stolen base numbers, Merrifield's disappointing performance this season led to his departure from the team. The Phillies, currently boasting a league-best record, made the tough call to release Merrifield and call up utilityman Weston Wilson from Triple-A as his replacement in the lineup.