According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Merrifield is set to join the Braves immediately as they seek to fill the void left by second baseman Ozzie Albies, who is anticipated to be sidelined for eight weeks due to a wrist fracture.
Albies sustained the injury during Sunday’s game against the Cardinals following a collision with St. Louis outfielder Michael Siani. With an estimated recovery period of eight weeks, Albies may potentially miss the remainder of the regular season should his healing process take longer than expected.
A three-time All-Star, Albies has posted a batting line of .258/.310/.407 this season with eight home runs and 46 RBIs, marking a downturn compared to his stellar 2023 campaign where he excelled as one of baseball’s premier second basemen.
Merrifield was waived by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 12 amid a challenging first half of the season. At the time of his release, the three-time All-Star had a batting average of .199/.277/.295 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.
Despite his recent struggles, Merrifield remains a versatile player capable of playing multiple positions in both the infield and outfield, depending on Atlanta’s needs. He appeared in 14 games at second base, 12 at third base, and 25 in the outfield for the Phillies this season. His last full season as a regular second baseman was in 2021.
In addition to Albies’ injury, the Braves are also contending with the absence of ace pitcher Max Fried, who was placed on the injured list on Sunday.